Researchers Find A Bevy Of Ancient Viruses Hiding In Human DNA

  • 8 years ago
Researchers recently discovered a slew of ancient virus remnants hiding in the 2,500 human DNA samples they studied.

Our DNA holds a great deal of essential components, but it also contains a lot of leftovers from long ago.
Among them are remnants of ancient viruses, and researchers from the University of Michigan and Tufts University recently discovered a slew of them among 2,500 DNA samples studied. 
Particularly noteworthy is one that was found still in its full form. 
In general, these sort of hand-me-down agents are quite common and technically called human endogenous retroviruses. 
Some have active qualities, but not always in a damaging way. 
One, for example, has come to serve a protective func

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