History

What is the Human Genome Project? In 1984, the US Department of Energy and other significant governmental and environmental agencies convened to discuss the feasibility of generating the first sequence of the human genome. Nearly twenty years later, in 2003, biomedical researchers across the world completed this project and sequenced over 90% of the human genome. As one of the most collaborative and ambitious scientific projects in history, the Human Genome Project set a precedent for biomedical research going into the 21st century.  How was the Human Genome Project completed? The mission of sequencing the entire human genome was highly…

Over 150 years after his assassination, Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most iconic figures of United States history. Serving as the sixteenth president of the country, Lincoln played an essential role in leading a divided nation during the Civil War. Today, his image lives on in the penny and his infamous memorial at the National Mall in Washington D.C. However, as ubiquitous as Lincoln is, a few mysteries remain surrounding his life. Most peculiarly, people have been speculating for decades whether the former president had Marfan Syndrome.  What is Marfan Syndrome? Marfan Syndrome is a relatively rare genetic disorder…

The discovery of DNA is often attributed to the famous duo, Watson and Crick. Though James Watson and Francis Crick were partially responsible for uncovering the structure of DNA, the discovery of the molecule itself is the achievement of a single researcher. This researcher, biochemist Friedrich Miescher, often goes unmentioned in conversations about great scientists. However, the impact that his work had on those in the field of genetics is nearly unmatched. Friedrich Miescher was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1844. Once Miescher completed his medical studies, he began working in the lab of Felix Hoppe-Seyler. Hoppe-Seyler is often referred to as the “founding…

The Neanderthals were a prehistoric species of humans that existed from about 400,000 years ago to about 40,000 years ago. They lived in Europe and Asia and, as a result, encountered modern-day humans as they migrated out of Africa about 55,000 years ago. In the past, scientists have wondered whether conflict with modern-day humans, also known as Homo sapiens, is what led to the extinction of Neanderthals. However, some theorize that Homo Sapiens may have absorbed them into their population by interbreeding with them. Whatever the reason for their extinction, interbreeding still occurred between the two species. And now, some living humans have genomes that…

The term "Habsburg jaw" references a jaw deformity present in many members of a German royal family collectively known as the Habsburgs. The deformity is believed to be a combination of two conditions that may share the same genetic causes. These conditions are mandibular prognathism and maxillary deficiency. Mandibular prognathism is a protrusion of the lower jaw while maxillary deficiency is an underdevelopment of the upper jaw. The severity of these conditions within the Habsburg family is thought to be the result of the inbreeding that they practiced in order to retain their power. Typically, inbreeding causes certain traits because it increases the likelihood that anyone who is the result…

Dwarfism is typically defined as having a height of 4 foot 10 inches or less in adulthood. Along with short stature, it can also lead to bowed legs, a disproportionately large head, and short limbs. It is most commonly caused by a genetic disorder called achondroplasia. This type of dwarfism is still rare and only seen in about 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 individuals. Because of this, the lives of those of short stature have always been very unique. Ancient Times (Egypt) Writings and imagery from ancient Egypt have shown that dwarfism may have been seen as a connection to the divine. It is thought…

Tutankhamun, or King Tut, was a young man that ruled ancient Egypt for a short period during the 14th century B.C. He, unfortunately, died as a teenager and was buried in an area called the Valley of the Kings. This site is where his body was found by archaeologists in 1922. The Health of King Tut Upon the discovery of Tutankhamun’s remains, researchers also discovered that the teenage king was not in good health before his death. They found that he had a deformity in the form of a clubbed foot and that bones in some of his toes were dying due to…

The Black Death was a pandemic, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, that wreaked havoc on Europe from 1347 to 1351 A.D. During this period, King Edward III of England purchased a piece of land that he decided would be a cemetery for the victims. This burial ground, now containing over 700 people, is being used to investigate the influence that the Black Death had on human genomes. The ERAP2 Gene and the Black Death ERAP2 is a DNA sequence that is located on chromosome five. The gene codes for an enzyme that helps process foreign substances so they can be presented to the immune system.…

King Henry VIII of England reigned between the years 1509 and 1547 A.D. He produced three heirs and formed the Church of England during this time. However, he also caused extreme turmoil both within his family and within England. Between the execution of two of his six wives and his abandonment of multiple children, many scholars have wondered why his actions seemed so erratic and cruel. One of their prevailing theories is that the king suffered from a rare genetic condition called McLeod syndrome which is known to cause psychosis and irritability. The Life of King Henry VIII Henry was never meant to be king as…

With the recent release of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix, interest in the historical figures that inspired its characters has skyrocketed. However, many people are unaware of the genetic disorders that plagued the real-life Queen Charlotte’s family. King George III's Disease As he does in the series, the real King George suffered with his mental health. During particularly difficult episodes, he was known to write letters with 400-word sentences as well as talk so much that foam would come from his mouth. Though doctors at the time could not diagnose the king, modern-day physicians have attempted to explain the now-deceased monarch’s condition.…