THE BLACK PLAGUE AND HEMOCHROMATOSIS By Jared Why

THE BLACK PLAGUE AND HEMOCHROMATOSIS By Jared

“Why would you take a pill that was guaranteed to kill you in forty years? ” SURVIVAL OF THE SICKEST BY SHARON MOALEM PAGE 14 PARAGRAPH 1

The Bubonic Plague � � Started in 1347 Killed over 25 million (1/3 of Europe) Highly contagious Painfully Swells Lymph nodes Picture from "Black Death. " Black Death. N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <https: //faculty. history. wisc. edu/sommerville/123%20161%20 Black %20 Death. htm>.

Iron and the Plague � The more iron in your body the more vulnerable you are to the plague.

Microphages � � White Blood Cells Find, Surround, Subdue or Kill Bacteria Brings bacteria back to the lymph nodes Have iron (like all other cells) Picture from http: //medicalxpress. com/news/2015 -04 -monocytes-macrophages-human-cancer-growth. html

Iron and the Plague � � The more iron in your body the more vulnerable you are to the plague. Iron is needed for bacteria to live. Bacteria take iron from the microphages Bacteria grow stronger and over take our immune system due to iron from the microphages

Hemochromatosis � � All cells have excess iron except one: microphages. Iron depriving microphages leave the bacteria weak and are better adapted to kill off bacteria such as in the black death.

“Why would you take a pill that was guaranteed to kill you in forty years? ” “Because it will save you tomorrow. ” SURVIVAL OF THE SICKEST BY SHARON MOALEM PAGE 14 PARAGRAPH 1