Shaun Lehmann

Questions and Answers (8) View all

• Answer added in Paleopathology
  6 An interesting article for those interested in paleopathology...
  By Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University
  Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University

  Oh that would be excellent! Thanks so much. That's the thing with the articles I've seen, they do a terrific job of shifting the etiology of TB in cat... [more]

  Oh that would be excellent! Thanks so much. That's the thing with the articles I've seen, they do a terrific job of shifting the etiology of TB in cattle from humans, but don't do that a great a job of suggesting where it came from prior. Thanks again Alison!
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• Answer added in Paleopathology
  6 An interesting article for those interested in paleopathology...
  By Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University
  Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University

  I'll look into it a little more with regard to bison, I had not come across any work on that yet. I find the argument that TB did not cross to humans ... [more]

  I'll look into it a little more with regard to bison, I had not come across any work on that yet. I find the argument that TB did not cross to humans from cattle based on the fact that the bovine strain possess a shorter chromosome than the human one (clonal organisms being unable to compensate for deletions via recombination) quite convincing. The article suggests that TB crossed to cattle in a round-a-bout kind of way via other mammals, which is also find interesting. Perhaps bison? I won't pretend to be an expert here, I'm only just starting my journey into the world of graduate studies and my studies of TB so far have been limited to a few undergrad assignments and a pile of articles I've collected over the last six months in order to learn as much as I can before thesis topic time comes.
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• Answer added in Paleopathology
  6 An interesting article for those interested in paleopathology...
  By Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University
  Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University

  I find the way anthropocentrism shapes our opinions of things like the development of human pathogens quite fascinating. To this day the primary reaso... [more]

  I find the way anthropocentrism shapes our opinions of things like the development of human pathogens quite fascinating. To this day the primary reason we tend to think TB came to us from cattle is that they are 'dirtier' than us. Very scientific isn't it? I can't help but chuckle a little when I think about that. In the world of biological anthropology that kind of thinking is endemic, I've made it my goal in future to remedy that somewhat if at all possible... Haha
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• Question asked in Paleopathology
  6 An interesting article for those interested in paleopathology...
  This is from a few years ago but concerns the commonly held (very commonly!) misconception that TB came to humans from domesticated cattle. It's a nic... [more]
  This is from a few years ago but concerns the commonly held (very commonly!) misconception that TB came to humans from domesticated cattle. It's a nice summary with references to other works. "Myths and misconceptions: the origin and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis" Smith, N., Hewinson, R., Kremer, K., Brosch, R. & Gordon, S. Microbiology 2009 Volume 7, Pages 537-544.
  By Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University
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• Answer added in Prehistory
  2 Resilient pathogens in Pleistocene fauna
  By Alison Stenger · Institute for Archaeological Studies
  Shaun Lehmann · Edith Cowan University

  I'll be watching this with keen interest. I'm interested in the history of TB in humans as a possible thesis next year. Evidence of TB in other specie... [more]

  I'll be watching this with keen interest. I'm interested in the history of TB in humans as a possible thesis next year. Evidence of TB in other species, especially those from whom our ancestors could have acquired TB would be very interesting (or vice versa of course!). I recently read an article that put a firm boot in the idea that human TB came to us via cattle based on molecular biological studies. Not sure if it would be interesting to you but I have the article around somewhere...
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