Posted on 03/15/2015 12:54:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Humans contain 'alien' genes not passed on from our ancestors, researchers have discovered.
The say we acquired essential 'foreign' genes from microorganisms co-habiting their environment in ancient times.
The study challenges conventional views that animal evolution relies solely on genes passed down through ancestral lines -- and says the process could still be going on.
Cambridge researchers say we acquired essential 'foreign' genes from microorganisms co-habiting their environment in ancient times.
Horizontal Gene Transfer
The transfer of genes between organisms living in the same environment is known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
It is well known in single-celled organisms and thought to be an important process that explains how quickly bacteria evolve, for example, resistance to antibiotics...
'This is the first study to show how widely horizontal gene transfer (HGT) occurs in animals, including humans, giving rise to tens or hundreds of active 'foreign' genes,' said lead author Alastair Crisp from the University of Cambridge.
'Surprisingly, far from being a rare occurrence, it appears that HGT has contributed to the evolution of many, perhaps all, animals and that the process is ongoing, meaning that we may need to re-evaluate how we think about evolution.'
...A number of genes, including the ABO blood group gene, were confirmed as having been acquired by vertebrates through HGT. The majority of the other genes were related to enzymes involved in metabolism.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
HGT is thought to play an important role in the evolution of some animals, including nematode worms which have acquired genes from microorganisms and plants, and some beetles that gained bacterial genes to produce enzymes for digesting coffee berries.
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Sons I gave birth to are ‘unrelated’ to me
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1023494/posts
and
So John SKerry is indeed descended from both ferns and mushrooms........I thought so.
...because that would be just weird....
Time for a second look at the URANTIA BOOK?
The “descended from aliens” crew is going to have a field day with this one.
He’s the only mushroom in history to be awarded 321 purple hearts.
Brilliant (and very funny) theory that needs to be tested. But I may never look at my salad the same.
BHO’s got lots more alien genes than that!
(Ferengi, I think...)
The recent story about the woman who received the fecal transplant and became obese comes to mind.
Ferengi, given that he lies like a rug
We have infiltrators...
I saw it in a movie so I know it's true.
I wonder if any of the genes come from sheep?
The evidence is all around us...
I volunteer to be the one to intermix DNA with that creature from outerpsace.
It’s a dangerous and thankless task — but I’m willing to do it. For all of us.
That explains our drummer!
Is that where Captain Kangaroo got Mr. Green Genes?
Genesis 6:2
“That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”
That’s clearly aliens, gettin’ down with the local female talent.
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