Using Archaeological and Genomic Data to Investigate the Evolutionary History of Celiac Disease

Summary

The Neolithic Transition brought with it a number of changes in the relationships that people had with animals, plants and pathogens. Increasing proximity to domesticated and commensal animals, and larger, denser communities shifted the disease ecologies of these communities and resulted in an increasing number of disease vectors. I use ancient and modern DNA to look at the effects that these new dietary and epidemiological trends had on people in the past and the genomic legacies of the Neolithic Transition today. This talk will focus specifically on Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease resulting in life-long gluten-sensitivity. It is estimated that between 1 in 100 and 1 in 300 people worldwide live with this disease, which, if untreated may result in gastrointestinal and central nervous system stress and iron deficiency anemia. While clinical and global health efforts have increase awareness, diagnosis and treatment, many questions remain about the evolutionary history of this disease. Combining archaeological and genomic data can begin to address questions about the history of Celiac Disease.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeological Perspectives toward Medicine and Global Health   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17663