A potential role for Transmissible Spongiform Encephatopathies in Neanderthat extinction

被引：16

作者：

Underdown, Simon ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Oxford Brookes Univ, Dept Geog & Anthropol, Human Origins & Palaeoenvironm Res Grp, Oxford OX3 0BP, England

来源：

MEDICAL HYPOTHESES | 2008年 / 71卷 / 01期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1016/j.mehy.2007.12.014

中图分类号：

R-3 [医学研究方法]; R3 [基础医学];

学科分类号：

1001 ;

摘要：

The Neanderthals were a Eurasian human species of the genus Homo that disappeared approximately 30,000 years ago. The cause or causes of their extinction continues to intrigue specialists and non-specialists alike. Here a contributory rote for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) is suggested. TSEs could have infected Neanderthal groups as a result of general cannibalistic activity and brain tissue consumption in particular. Further infection could then have taken place through continued cannibalistic activity or via shared used of infected stone tools. A modern human hunter-gatherer proxy has been developed and applied as a hypothetical model to the Neanderthals. This hypothesis suggests that the impact of TSEs on the Neanderthals could have been dramatic and have played a large part in contributing to the processes of Neanderthal extinction. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

引用

页码：4 / 7

页数：4

共 12 条

[1] The public health impact of prion diseases [J].