Gonorrhea acquires a piece of human DNA: First evidence of gene transfer from human host to bacterial pathogen
Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 20:31
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have discovered the first evidence of a fragment of human DNA in a bacterium -- in this case gonorrhea. Research showed the gene transfer appears to be a recent evolutionary event. The discovery offers insight into evolution as well as gonorrhea's ability to continually adapt and survive in its human hosts. Gonorrhea is one of the oldest recorded diseases and one of a few exclusive to humans.