Brain Disease 'Resistance Gene' Evolves in Papua New Guinea Community; Could Offer Insights Into CJD

-Kuru passed down from mortuary feasts where mainly women and children consumed their dead ancestors as a sign of respect.
-The ceremonial practice was banned and stopped in the late 1900’s.
-In some populations of the eastern highlands there are people with a gene mutation that offers a high resistance to the disease that exists nowhere else in the world.
-Natural selection and variation in society help build a natural defense against the disease.


Reflection I chose this article because the title reminded me of what we saw in the movie “brain eaters” we saw in class the other day. This article gave me a better insight on kuru itself than watching the movie did. I find it kind of weird how the disease is passed on through cannibalism and I didn’t know that even existed in the world anymore. Learning about this disease and diseases in the same family really make you wonder what your putting in your body. No one is really protected from these disease and if you think about it, it is kind of scary.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091120091959.htm

Picture: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/brain/images/1-1-1-3-1-4-0-0-0-0-0.jpg

Citation: Medical Research Council (UK). "Brain Disease 'Resistance Gene' Evolves in Papua New Guinea Community; Could Offer Insights Into CJD." ScienceDaily 21 November 2009. 19 May 2010 .