"the victim simply dies from sceptic shock".
Is that what happens when sceptics debunk woo? If only it were so easy...
Great post! I used to work on HIV. (this relates trust me)Some people get infected but do not develop AIDS. It turns out many have a deletion in a co-receptor called CCRdelta5. The virus cannot get into the cells if you have this mutation. Immunologists went in search of the genetic history of this deletion while I was using rybozimes to try and treat HIV infected people (didn't work). Turns out the highest prevelancy of this mutation was in areas hit hardest by the plague! I hope you may illuminate how this deletion helped protect the population.
Oh btw, last month researchers discovered that if you have this mutation, you may be protected against HIV, but it makes you more susceptable to West Nile Virus infection. Make a guy wonder what the hell the Intelligent Designer had in mind
This isn't my area of expertise, so I'm wondering about your thoughts on this.
You commented that Y. pestis caused the Black Death. However, I've heard that there is recent information that casts some doubt on that idea. See here:
Wikipedia: Black Death - Alternative explanations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bla...ve_explanations
Do you know if these arguments have any merit? And how confident would you say you are that Y. pestis caused the Black Death?
Thanks. 
I'm having a look into that, the response is looking a little long so I'll make a new post on the matter this week discussing alternative ideas.
I wouldn't want to be accused of holding up a 'plague orthodoxy'
goatcheese.
Commenting by HaloScan
