The Genetic Fingerprint of Transmission Every time a malaria parasite reproduces, it creates an opportunity to trace ancestry. When two parasites share large segments of identical DNA, it’s not coincidence—it’s evidence of recent common inheritance. This is Identity by Descent (IBD), and it’s revolutionizing how we understand malaria transmission.
Unlike traditional surveillance that tracks where people get infected, IBD tracks where parasites came from. This molecular genealogy reveals:
Transmission chains — Which infections are connected?