Old Viruses Resurrected Through DNA by Carl Zimmer:
About 100,000 segments of human DNA are remarkably similar to retroviruses, a class of viruses that includes HIV. Retroviruses insert a copy of their genes into the genome of their host cell. Scientists estimate that 8 percent of the human genome is made up of this viral DNA, known as human endogenous retroviruses, or HERVs.
November 23rd, 2006 at 9:24 am
“The discovery has astonished scientists studying the human genome - the genetic recipe of man. Until now it was believed the variation between people was due largely to differences in the sequences of the individual ‘letters’ of the genome.
It now appears much of the variation is explained instead by people having multiple copies of some key genes that make up the human genome”….
August 30th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Scientists at the University of Rochester and the J. Craig Venter Institute have discovered a copy of the genome of a bacterial parasite residing inside the genome of its host species…
November 28th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
One of the great things about writing this blog is I find myself more focused on reading about interesting science. Retroviruses are very interesting and frankly amazing….
August 5th, 2008 at 9:51 am
One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing this blog is that I have focused much more on cool things I read. And over time the amazing things I posted about related to these topics made me realize I should put some focused effort to reading more on these topics…