The mosquito that first injected Homo sapiens with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum didn’t pick it up from humans’ closest primate relative, the chimpanzee, but from the western gorilla, new research suggests. The primary cause of malaria in humans, P. falciparum is most closely related to another species of Plasmodium that infects gorillas, scientists report in the Sept.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.