Analysis of DNA extracted from the gum has confirmed the gender of all human hosts and revealed a genetic link between three mummies and humans in the Amazon 2,000 years ago.
It shows for the first time that the indigenous peoples of the Argentine province of San Juan migrated from the Amazon rainforest in the north of the continent, from what is now southern Venezuela and Colombia.
DNA analysis of the nits themselves confirmed the same migration pattern, from the plains of the northern Amazon to central western Argentina, and the Andes Mountains of San Juan.
DNA analysis also showed that all human remains studied belong to the first indigenous mitochondrial lineages of South America.
In addition, the first direct evidence of Merkel cell polyma virus was found in the DNA of one of the mummies. The virus, which was discovered in 2008, is secreted by healthy human skin and in exceptional cases can enter the body and cause a type of skin cancer. This finding opens the possibility of head lice spreading the virus.
“Thinker. Coffeeaholic. Award-winning gamer. Web trailblazer. Pop culture scholar. Beer guru. Food specialist.”
More Stories
'Destination
The old-fashioned Golden Ax is getting an animated series on Comedy Central
Architects cheer in the run-up to the election