A new project aims to uncover how genetic traits from the Black Death era shaped human populations, providing insights into disease susceptibility that may still affect us today. Led by Harald Ringbauer of the Max Plank Institute, the research team will analyze the genomes of 500 victims to link medieval and modern genes in an unprecedented way.
The EPIDEMIC project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), will study whole genomes from Black Death victims, an event that decimated nearly half of Medieval Europe’s population. Ringbauer’s team is focused on identifying common genetic variants that may have influenced how certain individuals were more susceptible to the deadly disease. “The Black Death offers a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of how such genetic traits mix and change over generations and how infections drive these changes,” Ringbauer explains.
By using innovative tools to link Medieval and modern genomes, the researchers will map gene movement and genealogies across Europe. This project is part of a broader effort that has already examined the genetic data of over 10,000 ancient humans, revealing significant insights into how populations changed over time. However, understanding genetic changes in populations that have constantly migrated, such as Medieval and modern Europeans, remains a challenge.
The research on the Black Death is particularly critical because it highlights how infections have historically influenced human genetics. “It is crucial to expand our knowledge of recent fine-scale human population history to better understand why certain diseases are more common in some modern groups,” says Ringbauer. The team aims to resolve the ongoing debate among experts regarding the Black Death’s long-term impact on the human genome and the immune system.
Investigating Disease Susceptibility and Resistance
Ringbauer and his team will sequence the genomes of Black Death victims discovered in St. Pölten, Austria. Excavations there uncovered 22,500 skeletons, with more than 500 individuals buried in mass graves. Researchers identified the DNA of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague, matching the exact strain from the first wave of the outbreak.
“Our first major goal is to use this unique opportunity of a large number of now proven Black Death victims to better understand how these individuals, who all died in 1350, relate to people living across Europe today,” says Ringbauer. “New computational tools will allow us to dig into the past and link this generation of Medieval people to modern Europeans, and to explore fine-scale population structure and demography over the centuries.”
The team also hopes to uncover specific genetic traits that made certain individuals more susceptible or resistant to the plague. “Genetic variants that increase the risk of a lethal outcome of a Black Death infection will be enriched in the genomes of the 500 victims. The large sample size allows us to find these variants and, for the first time, to robustly investigate the direct impact of the Black Death on human genetics and potentially uncover important genetic information relevant to current and future disease outbreaks,” Ringbauer adds.
Collaborating closely with archaeologists and anthropologists, the project will also analyze the skeletons’ contextual data, including age and nutritional status, offering a comprehensive view of the victims. This research has the potential to not only illuminate the genetic impact of one of history’s deadliest pandemics but also to provide valuable insights into genetic resistance to diseases that could help in understanding future outbreaks.
Top Image: Mass grave dating to the Black Death period, identified in the ’16 rue des Trente Six Ponts’ archaeological site in Toulouse, France. Photo by Archeodunum SAS, Gourvennec Michaël
A new project aims to uncover how genetic traits from the Black Death era shaped human populations, providing insights into disease susceptibility that may still affect us today. Led by Harald Ringbauer of the Max Plank Institute, the research team will analyze the genomes of 500 victims to link medieval and modern genes in an unprecedented way.
The EPIDEMIC project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), will study whole genomes from Black Death victims, an event that decimated nearly half of Medieval Europe’s population. Ringbauer’s team is focused on identifying common genetic variants that may have influenced how certain individuals were more susceptible to the deadly disease. “The Black Death offers a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of how such genetic traits mix and change over generations and how infections drive these changes,” Ringbauer explains.
By using innovative tools to link Medieval and modern genomes, the researchers will map gene movement and genealogies across Europe. This project is part of a broader effort that has already examined the genetic data of over 10,000 ancient humans, revealing significant insights into how populations changed over time. However, understanding genetic changes in populations that have constantly migrated, such as Medieval and modern Europeans, remains a challenge.
The research on the Black Death is particularly critical because it highlights how infections have historically influenced human genetics. “It is crucial to expand our knowledge of recent fine-scale human population history to better understand why certain diseases are more common in some modern groups,” says Ringbauer. The team aims to resolve the ongoing debate among experts regarding the Black Death’s long-term impact on the human genome and the immune system.
Investigating Disease Susceptibility and Resistance
Ringbauer and his team will sequence the genomes of Black Death victims discovered in St. Pölten, Austria. Excavations there uncovered 22,500 skeletons, with more than 500 individuals buried in mass graves. Researchers identified the DNA of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague, matching the exact strain from the first wave of the outbreak.
“Our first major goal is to use this unique opportunity of a large number of now proven Black Death victims to better understand how these individuals, who all died in 1350, relate to people living across Europe today,” says Ringbauer. “New computational tools will allow us to dig into the past and link this generation of Medieval people to modern Europeans, and to explore fine-scale population structure and demography over the centuries.”
The team also hopes to uncover specific genetic traits that made certain individuals more susceptible or resistant to the plague. “Genetic variants that increase the risk of a lethal outcome of a Black Death infection will be enriched in the genomes of the 500 victims. The large sample size allows us to find these variants and, for the first time, to robustly investigate the direct impact of the Black Death on human genetics and potentially uncover important genetic information relevant to current and future disease outbreaks,” Ringbauer adds.
Collaborating closely with archaeologists and anthropologists, the project will also analyze the skeletons’ contextual data, including age and nutritional status, offering a comprehensive view of the victims. This research has the potential to not only illuminate the genetic impact of one of history’s deadliest pandemics but also to provide valuable insights into genetic resistance to diseases that could help in understanding future outbreaks.
Top Image: Mass grave dating to the Black Death period, identified in the ’16 rue des Trente Six Ponts’ archaeological site in Toulouse, France. Photo by Archeodunum SAS, Gourvennec Michaël
Related Posts
Subscribe to Medievalverse