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Ancient DNA Pushes Syphilis Lineage Back 5,500 Years: Oldest Genome from Colombia Rewrites History
Ancient DNA Pushes Syphilis Lineage Back 5,500 Years Ancient DNA analysis from a 5,500-year-old skeleton in Colombia has revealed the oldest known genome of a Treponema pallidum relative, rewriting the timeline of syphilis origins. This discovery extends the pathogen’s genetic record by about 3,000 years and challenges assumptions tying its emergence to agriculture and population
