The high proportion of people who are heterozygous at codon 129 of the prion protein gene suggests that ancient humans may have participated in ritualistic cannibalism.

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Heterozygosity at codon 129 is associated with increased susceptibility to prion diseases, which can be acquired through consumption of contaminated neural tissue, including through cannibalism. The high frequency of heterozygosity at this codon in some populations, such as the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, has been hypothesized to be a result of historical cultural practices involving cannibalism.

The High Proportion of People Who Are Heterozygous at Codon