Viral phenomenon: Ancient microbe invaded human DNA

AFP ^ | Jan 6, 2010 | Unknown

[decimon]

PARIS (AFP) – Humans carry in their genome the relics of an animal virus that infected their forerunners at least 40 million years ago, according to research published Wednesday by the British science journal Nature.

The invader is called bornavirus, a brain-infecting pathogen that was first identified in 1970s.

Scientists led by Keizo Tomonaga of Japan's Osaka University compared the DNA of a range of mammals, including humans, apes, elephants, marsupials and rodents, to look for tell-tale signatures of bornavirus code.

In the human genome, the team found several bornavirus fragments but also in the form of two genes that may be functional, although what they do is unclear.

Until now, the only viruses known to have been handed on in vertebrates were retroviruses, which work by hijacking cellular machinery in order to reproduce.

[decimon]

Born viral ping.

[I am Richard Brandon]

Evolution!

[neverdem]

Humans carry in their genome the relics of an animal virus that infected their forerunners at least 40 million years ago, according to research published Wednesday by the British science journal Nature.

I wonder if this is a press release. There's nothing at Nature yet.

[decimon]

There's nothing at Nature yet.

It might be there.

"The research, which appeared online today in Nature, offer the first evidence of such non-retroviral sequence incorporation into mammalian genomes — and suggests bornaviruses infected some mammalian species tens of millions of years ago."

http://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/mammalian-genomes-house-non-retroviral-rna-virus-sequences-study-finds

"Researchers report in this week's issue of Nature that bornaviruses, a group of negative sense RNA viruses, integrated into the DNA of humans and other primates, rodents, and elephants millions of years ago."

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/56239/

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks decimon. Been a long while since a twice-a-week reprise of this one: The Scars of Evolution: What Our Bodies Tell Us About Human Origins by Elaine Morgan "The most remarkable aspect of Todaro's discovery emerged when he examined Homo Sapiens for the 'baboon marker'. It was not there... Todaro drew one firm conclusion. 'The ancestors of man did not develop in a geographical area where they would have been in contact with the baboon. I would argue that the data we are presenting imply a non-African origin of man millions of years ago.'" To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[decimon]

And were the neanderthals similarly viral? Huh? Huh? Huh?

[SunkenCiv]

:’) The reason they look all swelled is that they had the mumps, er somethin’... ;’)

[colorado tanker]

So that’s how that virus got into my computer a few years ago. I carry the sucker in my genes.

[blam]

I thought this sounded familiar:

Borna Virus and Depression.

[Fractal Trader]

I just read this book. Seems pretty thoughtful and well-reasoned. A lot of the characteristics which she discusses have been, at most, poorly explained/justified by the scientific community.

Do you think people will ever accept her work? Wikipedia comes down very negative on the Aquatic Ape Theory.

[neverdem]

It’s still not there. Ditto PNAS on the other thread.

[SunkenCiv]

I suspect that she brings up the baboon virus marker as a way to show that her hypothetically isolated chunk of Africa where the apes got all ‘quatic fits some more evidence. The theory itself was just a political diatribe. I don’t dislike her for it, because, well, look what we all have for a hobby... :’) I think it’s a good book to tackle, because it’s kinda short, and has a clear and concise writing style (at least, I thought so).

[Fractal Trader]

But do you believe in AAT? Do any scientists believe in it? Shroud any scientist believe in it?

Though I am no expert, I thought that she was able to explain a whole series of anomalies with a relatively simple argument. I buy it, but should I?

[SunkenCiv]

The breakdown of AAT is that our ancestors became human, lost most of our body hair (while getting a big mane on our scalps), got bigger brains, moved our genitalia (and increased the size), etc, just because some moistened binks stood around in the surf. :’) “The Descent of Woman” shook up a lot of people because it was such a then-trendy, faddish, blatantly political work passed off as a scientific theory. The most plausible parts of it, IMHO, are how she ridicules what were then the conventional explanations for various anatomical characteristics. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks blam.

[Fichori]

Humans carry in their genome the relics of an animal virus that infected their forerunners at least 40 million years ago, according to research published Wednesday by the British science journal Nature.

How can we objectively verify this claim?

Additionally, how much can we reduce the claim while still accurately representing verifiable discovery?

[grey_whiskers]

moved our genitalia (and increased the size), etc, just because some moistened binks stood around in the surf. :’)

Sorry, couldn't resist -- link only.

Cheers!

[SunkenCiv]