Imagine o que poderíamos aprender sobre as doenças ao estudarmos a história das doenças humanas, dos antigos hominídeos aos dias de hoje. Mas como? A TED Fellow Christina Warinner é uma arqueogeneticista e ela descobriu uma nova ferramenta espetacular  -- o DNA microbiano em placas dentárias fossilizadas.

Cristina Warinner: Seguindo o rastro de doenças antigas usando... a placa

Fossilized dental plaque, or dental calculus, is a rich archive of ancient health information. Researchers have discovered that this substance preserves DNA and proteins from bacteria, diet, and the human immune system, sometimes in quantities up to 600 milligrams on ancient teeth. By studying these traces, scientists can reconstruct the dynamic interplay of diet, infection, and immunity over thousands of years. This approach moves beyond bones and mummies, offering a new window into the evolutionary roots of modern disease.

Fossilized Dental Plaque Reveals Secrets Of Ancient Disease

TED Fellows

ancient world

bacteria

evolution

medicine

paleontology

science

biology

anthropology

disease

food

genetics

history

health

innovation

TED Stage Talk

Christina Warinner: Cristina Warinner: Seguindo o rastro de doenças antigas usando... a placa