The following is an excerpt.
People living in the Ganges Delta, where cholera is an ancient, endemic and often lethal disease, have adapted genetically to the scourge through variations in about 300 genes, say researchers who have scanned their genomes for the fingerprints of evolution.
The researchers also found unexpected changes in genes that protect against arsenic, suggesting that arsenic exposure in Bangladesh is not just a modern problem associated with deep tube wells but may have ancient roots.
Read the full story here: Gene Sleuths Find How Some Naturally Resist Cholera
Additional Resources:
- “Cholera is Altering the Human Genome,” Science AAAS
For slightly more technical coverage of the findings, check out this write-up from the journal Science. - “Evolution: A Mutation Story,” PBS
The genetic mutation that can lead to sickle cell anemia, and prevent against deadly malaria, is another example of human genetic adaptation to disease. Learn more about the mutation by watching this video from PBS.
