Ancient DNA evidence has provided new insights into the long-debated origins of syphilis, indicating its emergence in the Americas approximately 9,000 years ago. A study published in Nature on December 18, 2024, by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology presents genetic evidence of the disease’s American origins. The research team, led by archaeogenetics Kirsten Bos, analyzed dozens of skeletons from Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Mexico, successfully reconstructing five genomes. Their genetic analysis revealed that Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis, evolved from an ancient precursor that existed in the Americas millennia before European contact. “Four of … Continue reading Ancient DNA Confirms Syphilis Originated in Americas 9,000 Years Ago, Preceding European Contact