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Much of Our DNA is From Viruses

in
Department: 
Biology: Earth and Astro-
Teaser: 

Researchers have found that as much as 8% of the human genome comes from a virus and not from our ancestors. Such viral DNA may be a cause of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

Link: 

Evolutionary surprise: Eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus

Source: 

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News Download time: Jan 8 2010 9:12 AM ET

About eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus and not from our ancestors, according to researchers in Japan and the U.S.

The study, and an accompanying News & Views article by University of Texas at Arlington biology professor Cédric Feschotte, is published in the journal Nature.

The research showed that the genomes of humans and other mammals contain DNA derived from the insertion of bornaviruses, RNA viruses whose replication and transcription takes place in the nucleus.…

Also see the story in Wired Magazine.