AIDS Research Points to Origins of Virus Story aired: Monday, June 16, 2003
Several years ago, researchers said they had evidence that the AIDS virus first reached humans who ate chimpanzee meat. Now, scientists are taking the theory a step farther. They've traced the virus back to monkeys that the chimpanzees ate.
A study conducted by British and American researchers and published in the journal "Science" says it was the combination of viruses carried by two specific monkeys, both eaten by a chimp, which morphed into the virus we now know as HIV.
Paul Sharp, the lead author of the study, joins Here and Now to discuss his research and its implications.
