Researchers have uncovered the oldest known instances of plague in Britain, dating back 4,000 years, according to a report published in Nature Communications.
Scientists detected the presence of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague, in three separate cases in human remains found in a mass grave in Charterhouse Warren, Somerset, and at a ring cairn monument in Levens, Cumbria.
The researchers at the Francis Crick Institute – in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the Levens Local History Group and the Wells and Mendip Museum – used small skeletal samples from a total of 34 people found at the two sites.
Screening for Yersinia pestis in teeth, a procedure performed in a specialist clean room facility, involved drilling to extract dental pulp capable of trapping DNA remnants of infectious diseases.
Following the analysis of the extracted DNA, three instances of Yersinia pestis were confirmed in two children aged between 10 and 12, and a woman aged between 35 and 45.
Radiocarbon dating showed that these people probably lived at about the same time.
The Late Neolithic and Bronze Age lineage of plague has previously been identified in remains found in Eurasia from between 2,500 to 5,000 years ago.
However, it had not been observed in remains found in Britain from that time, and the strain's broad geographic range suggests easy transmission.
Genome sequencing carried out by the researchers indicated that the lineage was introduced to Central and Western Europe about 4,800 years ago, possibly by humans migrating into Eurasia. The research now proposes that it also extended to Britain.
The remains tested did not possess the yapC and ymt genes found in later strains of the plague, the latter of which is crucial for plague transmission via fleas.
It is believed that this strain was not transmitted through flea bites, unlike later strains such as the Black Death.
The discovery may also be the tip of the iceberg, as pathogenic DNA tends to degrade rapidly in samples that might be incomplete or eroded, making it plausible that other people found at these burial sites could have been infected with the same strain of plague.
The Charterhouse Warren site stands out, as it does not match other burial sites of the time period due to the apparent traumatic deaths of the people buried there.
Researchers speculate that these people might have been infected with the plague at the time of their demise, even though a plague outbreak does not appear to have caused the mass burial.
Pooja Swali, the first author of the paper and a doctoral student at the Crick, expressed her awe at the capacity to detect ancient pathogens in degraded samples thousands of years old, describing it as “incredible”.
Ms Swali emphasised the vital role these genomes play in shedding light on the spread and evolutionary changes of pathogens in the past.
Pontus Skoglund, group leader of the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at the Crick, highlighted the new research as an essential part of understanding the ancient genomic record of pathogens and humans, and how they have co-evolved.
Dr Skoglund emphasised the value of ancient DNA in documenting infectious disease much further into the past, while suggesting that future research could help us understand how our genomes responded to such diseases in the past and continue to do so.
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
