There were a few african prostitutes which didn't get aids, although they had daily sex without protection in areas where about 40% of people were infected. Upon examination, it was found that they carried a beneficial genetic defect which caused their t-cells to be covered with different proteins than the regular t-cells, and HIV viruses couldn't enter such cells.

quote:

I just find it very funny how our species has only just contracted this virus within the last 20 years. Seeing that we have existed as Homosapiens for about 3 million years,,, why have we not tripped over this virus in the past? Why so recent? All other virus's that have plaqued man kind have been known to plague our ancestors.... yet this one is new. Could it have been genetically engineered? That could be a possibility seeing that we had this capability since the mid 20th century.

AIDS was found in african jungles. Before the era of globalization those areas were just about the most isolated ones in the world. Most epidemics arise when isolated areas which harbor a disease get in contact with other people and other nations. Then the disease gets spread. If the disease would have originated, say, in early Europe, be sure that by now most of us would have antibodies. This way it stayed dormant in the middle of african jungles, occasionally infecting a tribe or two. What I find funny about this disease is that it is a sexually transmitted disease, and that the human infecting version mutated from a sort that infected monkeys. Someone in the past had interesting sexual preferences.

Btw, epidemics didn't happen just in ancient time, the plague hit Europe about a 1000 years ago, which from evolutionary stance is like it was yesterday. Also about a 100 years ago you had large epidemic of influenza flu. But since by now most of the world is globalized, it seems like AIDS is going to be the last natural epidemic unless some virus suddenly mutates and becomes very deadly.

___________________
1+1=10