Scientists employed trackers to plunge through dense jungle and collect the fresh feces of wild apes more than 1,300 samples in all.

And no, I didn’t find this listed on monster.com. Wired has an interesting article about the genetic trace of HIV back to chimpanzees in Cameroon. Turns out the common genetic base points towards the development of the SIV antibodies in geographically dinstinct communities of the chimps. The transmission from chimps to humans is still, and probably always will be, a little foggy.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Health’s AIDS chief, postulates on the pickng-up of the poop:

When tracing a virus’ evolution, “it’s important to get as close to the source as you can,” he said. “It’s of historic interest.”