Anthropology Discussion 2

Reading Guide—“The Puzzling Origins of AIDS” by Jim Moore

Subheading—The title tells us the article is about the origins of AIDS and the subheading tells us

that Moore will present 4 rival theories (hypotheses, arguments) and that there are important

lessons to be learned from each.

¶1-2: These paragraphs summarize some key history about HIV, the two main strains of HIV in

humans, and the non-human primate viruses that gave rise to the human virus. Given the genetics,

there have been multiple transmission events of versions of SIV to humans that ultimately evolved

into forms of HIV.

¶3: The question. Here we get the main question that Moore will address in the article. The

question is explicitly stated and repeated.

¶4: Setting up the context for the discussion, how Moore became involved in it, and how we should

look at the competing answers.

Theory 1: Tainted Polio Vaccine

¶5-7: Lay out the basics for the hypothesis that tainted polio vaccine is responsible for the

emergence of HIV. Pay close attention to what primate species are discussed, how polio vaccine was

developed, and the geography Moore discusses.

¶8-14: This is where Moore refutes Theory 1. He spends a lot of time discussing specific evidence

that invalidates the key claims of this theory. Pay close attention to how he sets it up.

Theory 2: Cut Hunter

¶15: Lays out the basic elements of the argument. Pay close attention to this theory because it

forms the basis for theories 3 and 4.

¶16: This isn’t so much a rebuttal of the argument but highlighting the challenges to testing this

particular theory. Because it is general, because it is not limited in time or space, it cannot account

for why the AIDS epidemic emerged when it did and it makes it very hard to test this hypothesis,

which, as Moore points out, “A hypothesis that does not account for the timing of the AIDS epidemic

and that is not falsifiable is of limited use.”

Theory 3: Contaminated Needles

¶17-19: This theory builds on cut hunter, providing a more specific timing for transmission events

and a mechanism for how HIV, once it emerged from initial transmission and evolution, could have

been passed relatively quickly through populations. The advent of disposable syringes is key and te

timing of that plays a role in why this theory may not be the best explanation. Based on the genetics,

HIV emerged earlier than disposable syringes.

Theory 4: Heart of Darkness

¶20-26: This is the theory that Moore developed with two of his students. It builds on cut hunter,

providing a specific context for the basic cut hunter hypothesis to give rise to the AIDS epidemic

and incorporates contaminated syringes but does not rely on disposable syringes. For Moore, the

context of exploitation and degradation of French and Belgian colonial policies in central Africa

provide the necessary context to situate the general cut hunter theory effectively with the timing of

the emergence of HIV.

¶27: Moore ends this section highlighting some of the shortcomings of all these theories. None of

the account for all aspects of the emergence of HIV in the early 20th century or the subsequent

spread of HIV in the 1980’s, laying the foundation for the global epidemic.

Battling Theories

¶27-30: In the concluding paragraphs, Moore emphasizes that there are a lot of unanswered

questions but regardless of which of these competing ideas is best supported as we learn more, or

whatever idea may emerge in the future as a better explanation, that each theory is plausible and

therein lies the power of examining this question. There are general lessons to be learned.