Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
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Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#2Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#3Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
Yes, there are several types of viruses that purposely insert things into DNA. In fact, a significant part (more than half?) of our DNA comes from viruses (but is inactive).
Coronaviruses are not known to do this, so I'd bet on a lab error for now. But it is conceivable.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#4Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
It happens frequently with retroviruses. In fact 5-8% of the human genome is from (ancient) retrovirii. Coronavirus however is a completely different class of virus which makes it interesting, at least to me.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#5Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
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Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#6Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
It happens frequently with retroviruses. In fact 5-8% of the human genome is from (ancient) retrovirii. Coronavirus however is a completely different class of virus which makes it interesting, at least to me.
Well the article even states:
> The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#7Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
Yes, there are several types of viruses that purposely insert things into DNA. In fact, a significant part (more than half?) of our DNA comes from viruses (but is inactive). Coronaviruses are not known to do this, so I'd bet on a lab error for now. But it is conceivable.
Not sure where you all get your numbers from, when it is even explicitly mentioned in the posted article:
> The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
It happens frequently with retroviruses. In fact 5-8% of the human genome is from (ancient) retrovirii. Coronavirus however is a completely different class of virus which makes it interesting, at least to me.
Well the article even states: > The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
Sure, I read that bit but I think it’s interesting that other coronaviruses are thought not to rewrite DNA.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#9I implore everyone to read the full article and not only the headline. The paper that is being reported on was widely criticized in its scientific community for its weak evidence and should probably be seen (if you are very charitable) only as a starting point for other virus experts to jump into the discussion and do more experiments and not as something for general consumption.
Re: Evidence supports claim that SARS-CoV-2 genes can integrate with human DNA
#10Does this happen with lots of viruses or just SARS-CoV-2? Seems like it’s pretty rare and would not be a whole copy of the virus or that many cells, surely it would just be a small percentage to the point where it doesn’t matter?
It happens frequently with retroviruses. In fact 5-8% of the human genome is from (ancient) retrovirii. Coronavirus however is a completely different class of virus which makes it interesting, at least to me.
Sorry for the nitpick but virii is neither in Latin nor English a plural of virus. The Latin would be vira the English viruses. There are a couple of common variants floating around that probably originate from misunderstanding Latin.