It was long thought that a now-rare disease of the joints, alkaptonuria, was epidemic in Egypt 2,500 years ago. Evidence came from the high proportion of mummies from that period showing symptoms of the disease. Recently, however, chemical analyses of skeletons have led scientists to propose that the joint damage was actually caused by chemicals used by Egyptian embalmers.
Which of the following, if true, would additionally weaken the traditional view that alkaptonuria afflicted many Egyptians 2,500 years ago
A．X-rays of the mummies showed shadows that clearly suggested joint damage, and recent inspection of the skeletons has confirmed that hypothesis.
B．Although alkaptonuria is a disease that can be inherited, it did not appear in the descendants of the Egyptian population in which the symptoms were found.
C．Egyptian embalming methods were highly secret, and scientists are still not certain of the nature of some of the chemicals that were used.
D．Possible evidence of alkaptonuria has been pointed out in pictures representing the human figure found on artifacts left by other Middle Eastern cultures of that period.
E．(E) Some mummies of that period show no evidence of joint damage at all.
