More Ancient Viruses Lurk In Our DNA Than We Thought

University of Michigan ^ | March 22, 2016 | Kara Gavin

[SunkenCiv]

Recombinant mwa-ha-ha!

[Grimmy]

But, but, but...

I don’t wanna be recombinanted!!!

We, obviously, need someone to invent individual gene pool filters to clean this mess up.

[blam]

Well....2-9 pounds of you body weight is bacteria.(Actually, I've read elsewhere that it is much more than 2-9 pounds.)

"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."

[gleeaikin]

They had the same problem with the number of horses teeth until someone (Aristotle?) recommended counting them.

[SunkenCiv]

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

[BroJoeK]

"It appears that the average human bacterial load is approximately 2 to 9 pounds"

If you take anti-biotics for some infection, does that reduce the weight of bacteria, and your overall weight?

[lepton]

Hmmm. I interpreted that as more ‘co-opted’ - as in the genes were eventually used for something else aside from making viruses.

[blam]

"If you take anti-biotics for some infection, does that reduce the weight of bacteria, and your overall weight? "

I don't know but...I expect not.