The 5,300-year-old Ötzi the Iceman mummy and a prehistoric man who lived in Siberia 45,000 years ago both carried a cancer-causing strain of human papillomavirus (HPV), new research finds.
Scientists analyzed ancient genetic data previously collected from the individuals, and found that both were likely infected with HPV16, a preprint paper posted to bioRxiv on Dec. 16, reported. In the study, which has yet to undergo peer-review, the authors present what they say is the "earliest molecular evidence" of HPV16 in modern humans.
