Comments on: New Guinean Cannibals Evolved Resistance To Mad Cow-Like Disease

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:11:25 +0000

You can get the whole story of Gajduseks research back in the 50`s on the Fore people in an interesting book about different Prion diseases. the book is “The family that couldn`t sleep” by D.T. Max.

By: Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:54:50 +0000

Where do you think the term “long pork” comes from. They eat more than just human brains :-)

By: Amtak

Amtak — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:53:31 +0000

@Nalani: During my year in Papua New Guinea I was led to believe that this practice dates back to earliest known records and folklore. Also, I heard that men did eat the brains of vanquished enemy warriors, so as to acquire by ingest their bravery and skill. Of course, word of mouth has its own evolution as well, particularly over the course of decades and centuries. And often when I asked PNG people about it, they merely giggled and said, “You know, we don’t really do that anymore”.

The scientist who conducted the critical research on this subject lived close-by my Washington DC home, but by the time I caught up with him, he was in deep do-do for having more than platonic relations with some of the young PNG boys he brought home for their “educational” opportunity, at which point he was of no help at all on the subject.

By: Nalani

Nalani — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:31:19 +0000

Something’s missing here, I’m sensing: the logic, as presented, is incomplete. I’m a BIG longtime supporter of evolution and science – so I want to FEEL the logic working out and fitting in.

My QUESTION would go something like this: HOW LONG WERE THE FORE PRACTICING CANNIBALISM THAT INCLUDED EATING BRAINS? WHEN DID THIS PRACTICE BEGIN? How can this mutation be evaluated scientifically without this information included? How can “fast” OR “slower” evolution be inferred, without knowing how long the practice had continued? And if that timeline squares with a determination of genetic clock data on this mutation? AND, if possible, on the prion DNA as well. When did THIS protein anomaly first appear in the Fore population? I read some several decades back I think (’80s?), that generally only the women were given the brains to eat, while the men reserved the tastier muscle parts for themselves – and that scientists then found that, sure enough, mainly only their women were dying of Kuru. True? Relevant? Genetically, to producing these findings now? (I can’t imagine how, but would like to see some expert opinion.)

By: Em

Em — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:23:30 +0000

@Bob

Ha, okay so I wasn’t the only one.

It is an interesting find though.
Would they treat the other diseases by having the afflicted persons eat some brain tissue?

By: Bob Snyder

Bob Snyder — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:56:33 +0000

I couldn’t help but notice that the grammar in the first sentence is terrible.

By: Jumblepudding

Jumblepudding — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:33:13 +0000

Brains are a rich source of omega-3’s. Was the selection pressure magnified as more funerals occured resulting in more brains eaten as more people died of kuru? what a self-fulfilling prophecy.

By: bigjohn756

bigjohn756 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:25:20 +0000

I wonder if eating babies counts… I’d better ask Hemant.