2023-05-18 20:00:49
Fwhen one meets lovers, the kiss is an easy affair, a natural necessity. If you ask scientists, it gets complicated. There’s the mystery of why humans touch each other’s lips as a sign of supreme affection—and this behavior plays little role in other animals’ sexual repertoire. It is also a mystery when kissing came into the world, why some cultures take it for granted and why it is frowned upon in others. And what is the role of viruses such as herpes simplex and other pathogens that depend on kissing people for their own spread?
The scientific exploration of the kiss has received new impetus in the past year. At that time, an international research team led by scientists from the Universities of Cambridge and Tartu published a large study on the evolutionary history of herpes simplex-1. The virus is the causative agent of cold sores, an annoying and lifelong recurring infection that affects a large proportion of adults worldwide. The virus is transmitted almost exclusively through oral contact, making it particularly interesting for studying the evolution of kissing.
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