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The Human Genome: More Viruses than Genes?

Posted by michael on from the meme-expression dept.

jmulvey writes "A new University of Georgia study shows that most of the human genome contains a huge historical record of retroviruses. The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that viruses were instrumental in the evolution of chimps into humans."

6 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Viruses Instrumental to Evolution? by $rtbl_this · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does this mean that Outlook will eventually evolve into a secure MUA?

    --
    "Are you being weird, or sarcastic?" said Emma. I said I didn't know because I get the two feelings mixed up.
  2. in the same way by tps12 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Computer viruses have been instrumental in the evolution of MS Windows.

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
  3. Re:Book written on this by Bonker · · Score: 3, Funny

    Damn, and there I thought I had a good idea for a Sci-fi story until I read this and found that someone had already beat me to it.

    Still, it's an interesting idea to contemplate:

    Aliens/Deities come down and notice some pre-hominid primates.

    "Boy, these guys got potential, but not a lot. Why don't we KICK 'EM UP A NOTCH! BAM!"

    Okay, sorry. I should be shot for the gratuitous catch phrase.

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  4. Re:Retroviruses, Open Source, and Cancer by airuck · · Score: 2, Funny


    "So, what you're saying is that open-source is helping to cure cancer in the same way that the pencils the scientists are using are helping to save cancer."

    Let's review your syllogism:

    A pencil is a tool.
    Clinical research generated at a cost of billions and shared in an open and standard fashion is a tool.
    Proven algorithms are tools.

    Therefore, open source bioinformatics data and tools have the same worth as a pencil.

    You remind me of Steve Martin's routine "How to turn a fortune in real estate into $25 in cash!", but he was being funny as a jerk.
    It is unfortunate that some people were given brains when a spinal chord would suffice. - Albert Einstein

    --
    First entomology, then virology, and finally bioinformatics systems. Bugs follow me wherever I go.
  5. Re:chimps to humans? by suss · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just a detail: humans are not theorized to have evolved form chimps. Rather, chimps and humans evolved from a common ancestor.

    Well, the scientists are still not sure about Michael and JonKatz concerning that...

  6. Re:Evolution??? by t · · Score: 3, Funny
    wow you missed that point completely. Lets use some logic shall we? First of all, it is pretty damn hard to travel around without eyes. Therefore it would not be a silly expectation that the eyes developed long before humans started globe trotting. Hence the quite reasonable expectation that people have the same type of eyes. (Not that they are exactly the same, color varies widely for example.)

    And different races do not end up in the same place by chance. When people live in an area long enough, certain changes are quite common in order to better cope with the environment. Skin color is one of those.

    The purpose of the mule example, which you did not even bother to research at all, is that they exist at all considering their parents have differening dna lengths. And no, a mule is NOT a mutation, merely an offspring, an unsuccessful offspring, which is NOT uncommon in evolution. Evolution is NOT a direct path to success. Evolution is trial and error. The mule is an error obviously since it is sterile.

    Look, it is obvious that you know very little about what you are claiming is bunk. If you truly wish to argue against something then you must know more about the material then the people you are arguing with. That does not mean you have to believe it, but merely that you know it.

    sinfully yours, t.