Oh Goody (We're All Gonna Die): Scientists 'Rebuild' Black Death's Genetic Code

Seen here showing you just how much fun it is to die of the plague, a group of skeletons do the 'thigh bone's connected to the boner bone' dance or whatever. And now scientists have successfully "rebuilt" the genetic code of the bacteria that was responsible for the deaths of OVER 50 MILLION people in the mid-1300's. Wonderful, just wonderful. *knock knock* Who's there? "A plague superstrain." A plague superstrain w-- *drops dead*

Now scientists have uncovered some of the genetic secrets of the plague, thanks to DNA fragments drilled from the teeth of victims buried in a graveyard in London's East Smithfield.

Professor Johannes Krause from the University of Tubingen, Germany, was a member of the research team. He said all current strains circulating in the world are directly related to the medieval bacterium.

"It turns out that this ancient Yersinia pestis strain is very close to the common ancestor of all modern strains that can infect humans," he said.

"It's the grandmother of all plague that's around today."

Okay, so here's my plan: I'm going to create a plague superstrain. And I'm going to call it -- are you ready for this? -- pitch black death. *knock knock* Who's there? "Vin Diesel, I heard you say something about a Riddick sequel." Well you heard right! Here, inject yourself with this.

Black Death genetic code 'built' [bbcnews]

Thanks to Bronson, who agrees that, of all the plagues, frogs was probably the most WTF.

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