Malaria, mummies, mutations: Tutankhamun's archaeological autopsy.

Christian Timmann1, Christian G Meyer

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Strasse 74, Hamburg, Germany.

Summary

The cause of Tutankhamun's death remains debated. While malaria and Köhler's disease were suggested, this study proposes sickle cell disease and Gauche's disease as more likely explanations for the pharaoh's demise.