Genetic variation that protected against Black Death still helps against respiratory diseases today, but increases autoimmune disease risks

The same genetics that helped some of our ancestors fight the plague is still likely to be at work in our bodies today, potentially providing some of the population with extra protection against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. However, there is a trade-off, where this same variation is also linked to increased autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Lung-Heart Super Sensor on a Chip Tinier Than a Ladybug

This chip’s detection bandwidth is enormous – from sweeping body motions to faint sounds of the heart as it beats, waves the heart sends through the body, respiration rate, and lung sounds.