Posted on 03/28/2016 6:19:00 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
One whole endogenous retrovirus genome -- and bits of 17 others -- were spotted in a study of 2,500 human genomes...
Nineteen new pieces of DNA -- left by viruses that first infected our ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago -- have just been found, lurking between our own genes.
And one stretch of newfound DNA, found in about 50 of the 2,500 people studied, contains an intact, full genetic recipe for an entire virus, say the scientists who published their findings today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Whether or not it can replicate, or reproduce, it isn't yet known. But other studies of ancient virus DNA have shown it can affect the humans who carry it.
In addition to finding these new stretches, the scientists also confirmed 17 other pieces of virus DNA found in human genomes by other scientists in recent years.
The study looked at the entire span of DNA, or genome, from people from around the world, including a large number from Africa -- where the ancestors of modern humans originated before migrating around the world. The team used sophisticated techniques to compare key areas of each person's genome to the "reference" human genome.
...about 8 percent of what we think of as our "human" DNA actually came from viruses. In some cases, HERV sequences have been adopted by the human body to serve a useful purpose, such as one that helps pregnant women's bodies build a cell layer around a developing fetus to protect it from toxins in the mother's blood.
(Excerpt) Read more at uofmhealth.org ...
Recombinant mwa-ha-ha!
But, but, but...
I don’t wanna be recombinanted!!!
We, obviously, need someone to invent individual gene pool filters to clean this mess up.
"It appears that the average human bacterial load is approximately 2 to 9 pounds, depending upon which reference source is consulted. Below you'll find a variety of sources from which to choose."
They had the same problem with the number of horses teeth until someone (Aristotle?) recommended counting them.
And there’s the story about the neighbors, both farmers, who each had a horse and they couldn’t tell them apart — finally they measured the heights, and found out the white horse was a hand taller than the black horse.
/rimshot
If you take anti-biotics for some infection, does that reduce the weight of bacteria, and your overall weight?
Hmmm. I interpreted that as more ‘co-opted’ - as in the genes were eventually used for something else aside from making viruses.
I don't know but...I expect not.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.