The bit about adopting DNA that is helpful is just nonsense — the virus didn’t ask permission, it hacked its way in, then stayed put. Each gene “word” consists of three consecutive base pairs, such that former working sequences or future potentially working sequences are basically inert series of base pairs with a one or two-basepair intro rendering them useless.
thank you for the explanation
I think ancient viruses are to blame for the proliferation of species using calcium carbonate skeletons that is known as the Cambrian explosion.
Ewww! Get it out!
Hmmm. I interpreted that as more ‘co-opted’ - as in the genes were eventually used for something else aside from making viruses.