Our personal genome (an organism’s genetic information) contains remnants of viruses that once infected our ancestors.
No need to worry though. These viruses aren’t contagious like those that cause COVID-19 or the common cold; instead, they are sequences that have been integrated into our DNA over millions of years.
Most of these sequences come from a specific group of viruses known as retroviruses, which invade host cells and manipulate them into producing replication-required proteins.
Sometimes, a retrovirus can insert itself into a sperm or egg cell, which allows it to propagate across subsequent generations.
While this occurrence is rare, its frequency increases over extensive periods of evolution. Currently, about 8 percent of our DNA is comprised of these viral remnants.
For many years, scientists believed these viral sequences were mostly insignificant, referring to them as “junk DNA” that merely existed within cells without serving any important purpose.
However, recent research has shifted this perspective. Modern iterations of these viral proteins have been found to play crucial roles in functions such as memory retention, the development of the placenta, and enhancing our immune system’s ability to combat harmful microorganisms.
Nonetheless, it’s not all positive. Certain viral DNA fragments are linked to various human diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), certain cancers, and type 1 diabetes.
While they may not directly cause disease, they could play a role in the intricate biological processes that researchers are exploring.
This article addresses the question (submitted by Nick Conley via email): “Can a virus alter my DNA?”
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