Month: September 2022

ENDOGENOUS VIRAL ELEMENTS (EVEs). "In animal genomes, the majority of EVEs are derived from reverse transcribing RNA (rtRNA) viruses (i.e. retroviruses)." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

GERM LINE ENTRY. "Retroviruses are the only animal viruses that integrate into the genome of the host cell as an obligate step in their replication strategy, and are thus predisposed to enter the host germ line." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

NON-RETROVIRAL INVASION. "Unexpectedly, however, we identified a large and diverse population of sequences in animal genomes that are derived from non-retroviral viruses....revealing an extensive history of non-retroviral genome invasion ranging back to at least the late Mesozoic Era (∼93 million years ago)." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

NON-RETROVIRAL EVEs. "Systematic screening revealed that sequences derived from a broad range of non-retroviral mammalian virus groups occur as endogenous elements in the genomes of mammals, birds and insect vectors. We describe the first EVEs derived from the rtDNA and dsRNA groups, thereby establishing that the complete range of known animal virus replication strategies are represented by endogenous elements in animal genomes." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

FUNCTIONAL EVE INSERTS. "We provide evidence that the functionality of one of these sequences has been maintained in the host genome over many millions of years, raising the possibility that captured viral sequences may have played a larger than expected role in host evolution." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

PRICE OF GENETIC NOVELTY. "Endogenous retroviruses have shaped vertebrate genome evolution, not only by acting as genetic parasites, but also by introducing useful genetic novelty." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

RICH FOSSIL HISTORY. "The diverse EVE sequences described in this report demonstrate an extensive history of gene flow from virus to animal genomes. Animal genomes are a living document of virus and host interaction." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

VIRAL UBIQUITY. "HERV transcripts are found in every human tissue." http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0020825.html View in LinkedIn

ENDOGENOUS VIRAL ELEMENTS (EVEs) "that are neutral or only slightly deleterious in their hosts may fortuitously drift or hitchhike to fixation, accumulating mutations at the host neutral rate. Alternatively, EVE insertions may confer an advantageous phenotype on the host and spread through the population by selection." https://lnkd.in/bBjWGE5 View in LinkedIn

KEY FACTOID. "Retroviral RNA is converted into dsDNA before integration into chromosomes." https://lnkd.in/eZ47wKv View in LinkedIn