While its evolutionary history is disputed, there’s no doubt malaria was a key factor in the history of the Americas I am in the midst of a fascinating book about the way the world changed after Columbus “discovered” America in 14921. Called, appropriately, 1493: Uncovering the World Columbus Created, it is author Charles C. Mann’s follow-up to an earlier, equally engaging book on pre-Colombian … [Read more...]
Researchers Find Gene That Fights Severe Malaria in Children
Scientists have discovered a genetic variant in children that significantly reduces their risk of developing a life-threatening form of malaria. Children with the unusual, or variant, gene have a 30 percent lower risk of developing cerebral malaria than those without the gene. Cerebral malaria is the most serious form of the parasitic illness that causes very high fever and coma, and leads … [Read more...]