Neanderthal virus DNA hiding in living humans

• Autores: Colin Barras
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 2944, 2013, pág. 12
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The DNA of ancient viruses first spotted in the Neanderthal genome has been identified in modern humans. Whether the viruses cause disease, however, is not yet clear. In 2010, researchers unveiled the genomes of two extinct groups of human--the Neanderthals and the Denisovans. This revealed that some humans have inherited a few per cent of their DNA from their extinct cousins. Ever since, geneticists have been poring over the ancient DNA sequences for an insight into Stone Age life. One of their goals has been to find signs of endogenous retroviruses, viruses that invade cells and worm their way into DNA.