Ancient Viral DNA Plays a Role in Human Disease and Development
Ancient Viral DNA Plays a Role in Human Disease and Development
Viral remnants make up 8 percent of the human genome, and a new study finds that these sequences are still active in healthy people.
Viral remnants make up 8 percent of the human genome, and a new study finds that these sequences are still active in healthy people.
human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)
p53 Unleashes Endogenous Retroviruses to Tackle Tumors: Study
Marcus A. Banks | Jul 29, 2021 | 4 min read
New experiments suggest the famous tumor-suppressing protein uses viral elements lingering in the genome to get cancerous cells to announce their presence to the immune system.
The Scientist Infographics: Editor’s Picks of 2019
Jef Akst | Dec 18, 2019 | 3 min read
This year’s most beautiful illustrations covered topics including the molecular underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease and strategies for tracking marine organisms around the world’s oceans.
Infographic: Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Disease
Katarina Zimmer | Jan 1, 2019 | 3 min read
Human endogenous retroviruses that colonized vertebrate DNA millions of years ago have long been dismissed as junk DNA, but researchers now know that they may play important roles in cancer, neurodegeneration, and other ailments.
Taming the Transposon Hordes
Ruth Williams | Jan 1, 2019 | 3 min read
Researchers repurpose the CRISPR machinery to turn whole classes of transposable elements on or off.
Can Viruses in the Genome Cause Disease?
Katarina Zimmer | Jan 1, 2019 | 10+ min read
Clinical trials that target human endogenous retroviruses to treat multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other ailments are underway, but many questions remain about how these sequences may disrupt our biology.