http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012132653.htm
A recent study performed by scientists at McMaster University and the University of Tubingen in Germany successfully sequenced the entire genome of the Black Death plague that devastated Europe in the fourteenth century. This was the first experiment where researchers managed to piece together the entire genome of a relatively ancient pathogen. The first step in reaching this conclusion was to obtain a small fragment of the DNA according to geneticist Hendrick Poinar of McMaster University, who helped uncover a “plague pit” in London where a tiny fragment of the Black Death’s DNA was extracted from skeletal remains and determined to be a variant of the Yersinia pestis bacterium. This confirmation of the origin of the disease helped settle many debates over whether or not this epidemic sprouted from this bacterium. The genomic data acquired from the DNA fragment also showed that all modern plagues are somehow descended from the original Bubonic plague. The article further states that scientists have already begun studying the evolution of this bacterium, and have found that is has only been slightly altered in the past few centuries. However, this small change has significantly decreased the lethalness of Yersinia pestis.
These studies have incredibly beneficial possibilities for human health in the future. By understanding how the disease has evolved over time, scientists can predict very accurately how similar strains of other bacteria, or even the Yersinia pestis itself, will evolve in the coming years. Further, by examining this bacterium in several skeletons dating from different centuries, scientists have been able to make analogies between Yersinia pestis and many other epidemics, including the Justinian Plague of the sixth century. Many infectious diseases that had previously eluded complete understanding by scientists are becoming easier to identify and treat as well, as the use of DNA recovery and sequencing has been dramatically increased after this incredibly successful experiment.
I enjoyed this article quite a lot because of its interesting topic. The bubonic plague has been so deadly to the human race and so little was known about it for so long that this new discovery offers interesting insights into future consequences of the new knowledge. I also was pleased to see many quotes from the scientists working in the lab in the article, as it gave a very scientific viewpoint alongside the author’s narrative. The most interesting piece of the article, I would have to say, was the fact that this was the first complete reconstruction of any ancient pathogen. However, the author had absolutely no logical sequence in his writing, so understanding the order of the procedure and observations made at each point was hard to follow.
Amanda Austi
ReplyDeleteCurrent Events Comments: October 13th, 2011
Comment of Dan Mooney’s Review: “Researchers Reconstruct Genome of Black Plague”
Dan did a good job presenting this article. There are many strong points in his review. First, I thought that he presented the information with a lot of detail. The article itself was very confusing, but Dan presented it in a relative way that was easy to understand. He explained each part of the findings in a logical way, despite the fact that he noted that the author was very confusing in his writing. Second, I thought that he connected the information found in the article to the outside world in a nice link. He thoroughly explained why this new research is significant. With out this link, I don’t think I would have looked at this article the same way. Last, I thought that he did a good job at organizing his summary. It was very easy to follow.
Although there were many strong points in this review, it could be improved. I think that if he added a few quotes from the scientists it would have made this incredible finding much more meaningful. Hearing the views of the people who actually are responsible for this moment in science would have been good. Second, I think that if he explained how the researches actually were able to conclude these new findings, it would have been interesting. However, I believe that Dan did a good job presenting the content overall.
One thing that I learned when reading the response was that all modern plagues have now been concluded to be descended from the Bubonic Plague. This is very interesting to think that this one plague has caused all modern plagues. It is fascinating to have learned about the Bubonic Plague through out school, but now that scientists actually know where it came from is very interesting. Hopefully scientists can use this information to prevent future plagues.
I think that Dan did a terrific job with this review about sequencing the genome of the plague. Firstly, he chose a very interesting topic. As students, we have all taken world history and have heard about the plague. Therefore, it is fascinating to learn about it in a different way. In other words, it is cool to read about a new take on something you already know. Secondly, I think that Dan did a great job reviewing this article in a way that anyone can understand. This subject could get very confusing (as he also explains), so it is terrific that he was able to explain the processes these scientists do to sequence to genome of the plague. Finally, did Dan a great job explaining how these findings would benefit the society at large.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Dan did a great job with this review, there are a few things he could have done to improve it. When he was explaining the way in which scientists did this he could have included a few more details. For example, he states that the first step was to determine it to be a variant of the Yersinia pestis bacterium. His review would have been stronger if he explained how the scientists came to this conclusion. Secondly, he could have elucidated on the scientists plan for the future. This would make the review more meaningful.
Before reading this article, I had no idea that this kind of scientific investigation was going on. It is most fascinating that they are able sequence the genome of something that happened so long ago. I think it is also interesting that scientists may be able to use this information to prevent future epidemics.
Grace Devlin
ReplyDeleteAP Biology – Article Comment #3
10/13/11
I found Dan Mooney’s review of the article on reconstructing the Black Plague genome very informative and interesting. To begin with, Dan’s explanation of the article was well-done and made the subject comprehendible. He organized the information of the article in a succinct and satisfactory manner without compromising any of the important facts. Furthermore, Dan very nicely explains the significance of the sequencing of the bubonic plague genome to modern health advancements. It was good that he included why this achievement matters. Finally, Dan’s review was made all the more better by the comments he made in his reflection. Specifically, Dan highlights the fact that this was the first reconstruction of any ancient pathogen and deems it the most interesting part of the article. Doing this helps those of us who read the review know what is most important to take away from the article.
Dan’s review is top-notch, but there are some improvements that could be made. For example, it would have been nice to have more background information pertaining to why this research was done. He points out the effects of the study, but it would have helped round off the review if he had included the reason the study was performed in the first place. Additionally, Dan gives his own views on how these findings will impact the future, but it would be nice to know exactly what the scientists think. This would only give more support and validity to Dan’s insight and would give enhancement to his review.
After reading this article and Dan’s review, I was surprised to learn the legacy of the Black Plague. As the article states, “every outbreak across the globe today stems from a descendant of the medieval plague,” and with the newly reconstructed plague genome, “we are entering a new era of research into infectious disease." It is incredible to think of how many sicknesses and diseases there are in the world today and to know that all of these are the result of a single genome. And now that scientists have harnessed this genome, we are on the path to disease eradication.
AP Biology John Harrison
ReplyDeleteComments 10/15/11
Dan Mooney presented his review very well in several different ways. First, Mooney effectively explains why the recreation of black plague genome is significant, and then he smoothly transitions into how they went about finding it. Mooney explains that is in fact quite difficult to recreate ancient diseases. Mooney also presents the fact that the Black Plague was derived from the Yershina pestis bacterium. He presents this well because he explains how it ended a debate over whether the Black Plague originated from a bacterium or not. Mooney also presents well the fact that this can be used as a stepping-stone to understand how other diseases have evolved over time.
There are a couple of things Mooney could have done to make his review more effective. First, when reading through the article, I found that there were many dates and numbers regarding when the Black Plague existed, specifically, and how many people it killed. Mooney’s article could have been more effective if he included some of these statistics. There were also many people behind this project. It would have been interesting for Mooney to note what organizations and what people were involved, if for no other reason than to give them credit.
I was amazed to fins that the bacterium that caused the Black Plague still exists today. What was more amazing to me is the fact that even though Yershina pestis has changed very little, it is far less lethal. It is amazing to think that a bacterium that killed so many people could do so little harm today.
Carty Caruso
ReplyDelete10-15-11
Comment
I found Daniel’s review very informative. I liked the various ways he presented the article, but there were complications. I did like how he presented the fact that the bacteria found by the scientists was only slightly different in genetic code, but different in terms of physical properties. This appealed to me because DNA interests me due to it’s seemingly godly properties. I also liked the part where he mention the debate between scientists about the Justinian plague. While learning about the black death in history class I too wondered about the origin, but now the answer is almost at hand thus I can be satisfied with my own inquisitions. I also like the presentation of all the reasons that the black death would be less prevalent in modern day civilization. The fact that modern hygiene and antibiotics could stop a plague or epidemic breakout is very comforting. As well as that said fact, it is also nice to know that we have progressed in a positive manner in 660 years. I do think that this review could have gone into more detail about how exactly the scientist got the DNA off of some teeth. I also think that the effects of this discovery were not very well presented because of the many more effects that could have been listed. I was totally blown away with the fact that the mapped the genome of the purge of humanity 600 years ago. Overall I liked the review and was quite satisfied with what I had learned from it.
P.S. sorry its late. had a football thing i accept full responsibility for it being late however