In Our Genes, Old Fossils Take On New Roles

Washington Post ^ | Sep 1, 2008 | David Brown

[decimon]

"The past is never dead. It's not even past." -- William Faulkner

Over the past 15 years, scientists have been comparing the inherited genetic material -- the genomes -- of dozens of organisms, acquiring a life history of life itself. What they're finding would impress even novelist William Faulkner, the great chronicler of how the past never really goes away.

It turns out that about 8 percent of the human genome is made up of viruses that once attacked our ancestors. The viruses lost. What remains are the molecular equivalents of mounted trophies, insects preserved in genomic amber, DNA fossils.

[decimon]

Forever amber ping

[Kevmo]

What remains are the molecular equivalents of mounted trophies, insects preserved in genomic amber, DNA fossils.
***Cool.

[allmendream]

Some call endogenous retroviral sequences (ERV’s) in the genome as the “smoking gun” evidence of common descent.

It is absolutely amazing that if an ERV is found that is not degraded much from the “parent” sequence it is likely to be found only within that species or in very closely related species (exactly as if it had incorporated itself into the genome very recently). But if an ERV is found that is highly degraded it will likely be found in almost all closely related species (exactly as if it had incorporated itself into the genome of a common ancestor a long time ago).

There has yet to be a scientific explanation proffered for this phenomena that doesn't include common descent.

[Moonman62]

The Earth is only 6000 years old, LOL!

[allmendream]

Sure, if that helps you sleep at night. ;)

[decimon]

Mr. Brown appears to be a science writer but one who didn’t skimp on the literature courses.

[allmendream]

Why use one analogy when three analogous analogies will do? I suspect most “science writers” are journalist students from the quality of their work that I am able to judge on a professional basis. I think David Brown Staff writer for the Washington Post might be an exception as most his articles are “health” related issues, but I don't think so (judging by the overall quality of the Washington Post's coverage and their previous reporting on science related issues).

[TruthWillWin]

And I thought Tide and warm water cleaned all the bugs from my genes jeans?

[smokingfrog]

I noticed that the same article is at KansasCity.com, but the title is Genomes reveal evolution of viruses. Wonder why? The term "fossil" doesn't really apply if we are talking about mutated genes, does it?

[Coyoteman]

These things are a great road map of the past! Cool!

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	What happens in DNA, stays in DNA. Thanks decimon. 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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[SunkenCiv]

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.'"

[grey_whiskers]

Like, *PING*, dudes.

[decimon]

What happens in DNA, stays in DNA.

And some of it is bugsy.