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Black Death's Genome Cracked

Posted by michael on from the i-dont-want-to-go-on-the-cart dept.

exceed writes: "This article on Wired, and this article on Yahoo! News states that scientists have decoded the genome of the bubonic plague bacterium. This will now (hopefully soon) lead to vaccinations and treatments for the disease it causes."

8 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. I can see it coming... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Satan will sue these scientists under the DMCA for having cracked the protection of his copyrighted microscopic pupil. Will Congress learn to weigh all sides of an issue before passing random laws?

  2. Black Death by Digitalia · · Score: 3, Funny

    Rest asssured, lowly peasants. Your fair and benevolent rulers have presented you with the ultimate cure for the vile scourge known as the black death. This, a lowly bar of soap, shall be your floral scented cure! Fear not any longer.

    --
    Pax Digitalia
  3. Bubonic Plague? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


    Oh come on...why do medical-science-type people have to muck about,
    wasting their time with old,
    uncommon illnesses like Bubonic Plague.

    I'd bet the number of BP cases are probably 50000 worldwide every year. maybe less.

    HSV2 -- why dont they decode _that_ genome and get cracking on something to help with that.

    I'm getting tired of all these damn blisters! :)

  4. All in the timing. by Chairboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Great! This is excellent! This is something that could have been great about 400 YEARS AGO!

    Grr!

    What they REALLY need to decode is whatever virus it is that prompts record executives to pull together a group of 4-5 teenage boys and turn them into a 'boy band'. Cure THAT virus, and the world will thank you.

  5. Re:Wasteful by A+Tin+of+Fish+Steaks · · Score: 2, Funny
    Bubonic plague is still deadly, and can still be found in the unhygenic squalor of many a shanty-town in third and second world countries.

    It can still be found in the unhygenic squalor of Colorado. In fact, the strain analyzed by the researchers in this study came from the United States in 1992.

    I'm afraid I can't attest from first hand knowledge whether or not Colorado Springs qualifies as a shanty-town.

  6. A cure for the plague by gimmie_prozac · · Score: 2, Funny

    scientists have decoded the genome of the bubonic plague bacterium. This will now (hopefully soon) lead to vaccinations and treatments for the disease it causes." Great! Now I can finally get rid of that bird mask, holy relic, and incense burner I'd been keeping around in case the Black Death returned...

  7. From the article: by PD · · Score: 5, Funny

    In their study, published in the Oct. 4 issue of Nature, the researchers mapped a strain of plague that killed a veterinarian in the United States in 1992. He contracted the disease after an infected cat sneezed on him.

    Oh my god I would hate to die that way. Please just let me drown or get consumed by rats. Anything, but please don't let them print an obituary about me that admits that I was killed by a sneezing cat.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  8. Re:Excellent! by PieceMaker · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've read a lot about the various fun ways it can kill you through history books.

    Best to stay away from those history books then!

    :)