Before the arrival: genomic evidence for adaptation to Tuberculosis in the Andes before European contact

PEOPLE HAVE INHABITED THE ANDES MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH AMERICA FOR MORE THAN 9,000 YEARS, ADAPTING TO THE SCARCE OXYGEN AVAILABLE AT HIGH ALTITUDES, ALONG WITH COLD TEMPERATURES AND INTENSE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION. BUT A NEW GENOMIC STUDY LED BY RESEARCHERS FROM EMORY UNIVERSITY SUGGESTS THAT INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS IN PRESENT-DAY ECUADOR ALSO ADAPTED TO THE TUBERCULOSIS BACTERIUM, THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEANS, AS SOPHIE K JOSEPH AND JOHN LINDO EXPLAIN.