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Ancient Gene Variant Offers HIV Protection, Study Reveals

5/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study uncovers that the CCR5 delta 32 gene variant, which offers protection against HIV, traces its roots to the region near the Black Sea, dating back 6,700 to 9,000 years. This mutation likely played a crucial role in human survival as societies shifted to agriculture, bolstering immune defenses against rising infectious diseases.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study uncovers that the CCR5 delta 32 gene variant, which offers protection against HIV, traces its roots to the region near the Black Sea, dating back 6,700 to 9,000 years. This mutation likely played a crucial role in human survival as societies shifted to agriculture, bolstering immune defenses against rising infectious diseases.