There is also the theory that the eukaryote nucleus IS a virus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_eukaryogenesis
Neato! Thanks for that rabbit-hole to explore.
The human genome is full of viruses
41–50 of 118 posts
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just in case this is not known, human generic code is more than just DNA. Most important parts of what encodes us are: - DNA - epigenetic markers on the DNA which modulate which parts of the DNA are active. You influence these and pass them on to your children (as men) and grandchildren (as women, as girls are born with all egg cells they'll ever have) - cell organelles which copy the DNA, ensure the cell has food an…
> independent cells that were at some point captured by our own cells It makes a little more sense to think of them as "domesticated" rather than "captured".
Domesticated and implanted, unable to survive outside the host, we're talking full H.R. Giger here.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#43I've always thought of DNA as mere "data". "This goes here, that goes there", etc. And I've always wondered how such a relatively small amount of data could describe the massive complexity of a full-size organism. But this makes it sound like DNA is data the way Lisp is data: it can contain procedures and transformations and meta-statements about itself, and even mutate during the course of being interpreted. That wo…
Just in case this is not known, human generic code is more than just DNA. Most important parts of what encodes us are: - DNA - epigenetic markers on the DNA which modulate which parts of the DNA are active. You influence these and pass them on to your children (as men) and grandchildren (as women, as girls are born with all egg cells they'll ever have) - cell organelles which copy the DNA, ensure the cell has food an…
I found the egg claim interesting so I gave it a quick search: looks like there may be cases where these eggs can be replaced (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/3/120229-women-...) but your claim does generally hold true. Wow! It gave me a weird feeling thinking that men would be procreating directly in a sense with their partner's mother.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#44> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA.
I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false.
This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true.
The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times over all of human history that we have genetic code from viruses in our DNA, because a virus at some point managed to alter the DNA in a sperm or egg cell.
But the quoted sentence is just not how infections work 99.99...+% of the time. The cold I got last month isn't in my DNA forever. It's very sloppy writing that appears to be aiming for sensationalism instead of accuracy.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#45> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA. I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false . This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true. The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times ov…
If it was true then presumably we'd see the DNA of identical twins diverging with age (proxy for number of infections). Do we?
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#46> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA. I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false . This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true. The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times ov…
If it was true then presumably we'd see the DNA of identical twins diverging with age (proxy for number of infections). Do we?
Not just twin, but your former self too.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#47> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA. I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false . This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true. The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times ov…
In addition, only retroviruses are capable of altering DNA in such a manner.
The common cold is not a retrovirus.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#48Monkey patching is not good engineering practice.
from gevent import monkey
monkey.patch_all()
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#49> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA. I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false . This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true. The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times ov…
Mind linking some of the research? I've heard otherwise, but would be happy to read what you've read.
Re: The human genome is full of viruses
#50> Even after recovering from an infection there will always be a piece of that virus encoded within your DNA. I did a little research and this appears to be almost completely false . This sentence makes it sound like every time you get a cold, your body's DNA is permanently altered. Which would be insane if true. The reality is that this insane outcome is incredibly rare, but nevertheless has happened enough times ov…
yes. that is completely false. now I'm doubting the whole article.