Ancient Parchment DNA Reveals Sheeppox Virus History
Scientists have extracted and sequenced sheeppox virus DNA from animal skins used in medieval manuscripts, reconstructing the pathogen's evolution over 3,500 years. The findings show that sheeppox has affected Eurasian sheep herds for millennia, with outbreaks recorded in ancient Roman and medieval texts. The researchers suggest that archives worldwide may contain similar genetic traces of past animal disease outbreaks.
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Original headline: “Medieval manuscripts are "biological time capsules" for deadly sheeppox virus.” Browse more stories.