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/ Technology News / 2008 / January 2008 / January 30, 2008 DNA originating from ancient viral infections may be essential for healthy pregnancy |
Stem cell heart surgery may spell the end for transplantation
British scientists have developed a new technique that can rebuild a severely damaged heart, and one day, might replace the need for transplantation. ANI
A new insight into the turbulent atmosphere of Venus
New images taken by instruments on board ESAs (European Space Agencys) Venus Express have provided insight into the turbulent atmosphere of our neighbouring planet. ANI
ESA tests laser to measure atmospheric CO2
A recent ESA (European Space Agency) campaign has demonstrated how a technique using lasers could be employed to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. ANI
The DNA that originated from ancient viral infections are essential for a healthy pregnancy, says a new study.Retrovirus infections represent the most intimate host-pathogen relationship.
Washington, Jan 30 : The DNA that originated from ancient viral infections are essential for a healthy pregnancy, says a new study.Retrovirus infections represent the most intimate host-pathogen relationship.
The virus inserts a copy of its genome into the DNA of the host cell, resulting in an irreversible, stable and sometimes lifelong infection.
If a sperm or egg cell is infected, the virus DNA can be passed down generations, permanently fixed in the germ line. As a result, an Endogenous RetroVirus (ERV) can exist for millions of years.
"Over the course of evolution, retroviruses have invaded the germ-line of our ancestors on numerous occasions. Now, human ERVs (HERVs) make up around 8% of our genome," said Dr David Griffiths from the Moredun Research Institute and Cécile Voisset from the Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé in France.
Although there are no viruses similar to these ancient pathogens currently infecting humans, there are some related viruses in animals.
For a retrovirus to become part of the host genome it is usually inactivated by mutation or silencing so it does not express any proteins.
"Recent work has provided some tantalizing evidence supporting the roles of HERVs in normal physiology and also in disease, they can be seen as bona fide human genes," Griffiths said.
The study is published in Microbiology Today.
ANI
