Researchers discovered traces of DNA from a deadly virus that affected sheep thousands of years ago, preserved in the pages of medieval manuscripts made from animal skin. This discovery was made possible through the analysis of ancient documents that survived over the centuries.
Medieval manuscripts, produced on parchment made from sheep and other animal skin, served as a natural archive for ancient genetic material. Scientists managed to extract and analyze viral DNA from these historical sources, revealing information about the circulation of the virus over millennia.
The research allows for a better understanding of the evolution and history of this deadly virus that affected sheep. The genetic data found provides clues about how the disease spread and adapted over time, information that would be impossible to obtain by other means.
This study demonstrates that historical archives made from animal skin can contain valuable genetic information for modern science. Researchers believe that this method can be applied to other viruses and other historical periods, opening new possibilities for the study of ancient diseases.
