The human genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes, the biological blueprints that people make … Well, human. But it appears that some of our DNA – about 8% – are the remains of old viruses that have embedded in our genetic code in the course of human evolution.
These old viruses are in parts of our DNA called transposable elements, or TEs, also known as “Springgenen” because of their ability to copy and paste themselves in the genome. Tes, who are good for almost half of our genetic material, were once thrown away as “junk” DNA, sequences that don’t seem to have a biological function. Now a new study supports the hypothesis that these old viral remains play a key role in the early stages of human development and may be involved in our evolution.
By sequencing, an international team of researchers identified hidden patterns that could be crucial for gene regulation, the process of switching on and off of genes. The findings were published on July 18 in the magazine Science Advances.
“Our genome was seized long ago, but the function of many of his parts remains unknown,” said Co -author Dr. Fumitaka Inoue, a associate professor of Functional Genomics at Kyoto University in Japan, in a statement. “It is thought that transposable elements play an important role in the evolution of the genome, and their meaning is expected to become clearer as the research continues.”
Studying the study of how to activate TE’s Genexpression. It could help scientists understand the role that the sequences play in human evolution, possible connections between te’s and unveiling human diseases, or researchers learn how to focus on functional te’s in gene therapy, said lead researcher Dr. Xun Chen, a computational biologist and main investigator at Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection of the Chinese Academy of Sciens.
With more research, “we hope to discover how TEs, in particular Ervs (endogenous retroviruses or old viral DNA), make us human,” Chen added in an e -mail.
Embedded old viral DNA
If our ancestors of the primates were infected with viruses, sequences of viral genetic information would replicate and insert themselves at various locations in the chromosomes of the host.
“Old viruses are effective in invading our ancestous, and their remains are a large part of our genome. Our genome has developed countless mechanisms to control these old viruses, and to eliminate their potential adverse effects,” Dr. Lin, a molecular biologist and the Thomas and Stace Siebel Distinguitteitie Star in stem cell chair in stem cell cell disorder in the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of University of the University of the University of University of University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University Eliminate University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of the University of California.
For the most part, these old viruses are inactive and are not a reason for concern, but research has shown in recent years that some transposable elements can play an important role in human diseases. A study of July 2024 investigated the possibility of silencing certain TEs to make cancer treatment more effective.
“In the course of evolution, some viruses are degenerated or eliminated, some are largely suppressed in expression in normal development and physiology, and some are domesticated to serve the human genome,” he said, who was not involved in the new study. “Although they are experienced as exclusively harmful, some old viruses can become part of us and offer raw materials for genome innovation.”
But because of their repetitive nature, transposable elements are notorously difficult to study and organize. Although in sequencies are subdivided into families and subfamily on the basis of their function and parable, many are poorly documented and classified, “who can significantly influence their evolutionary and functional analyzes,” said Chen.
Old viral impact on human development and evolution
New research suggests that old viruses could have contributed to the evolutionary process that resulted in people, chimpanzees and macaques. – Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty
The new study was aimed at a group of sequencies called MER11 found in primates. By using a new classification system and testing the gene activity of the DNA, researchers identified four previously undiscovered subfamily.
The most recently integrated sequence, called MER11_G4, turned out to have a strong ability to activate gene expression in human stem cells and neural cells at an early stage. The finding indicates that this te -sub -family plays a role in early human development and “can dramatically influence how genes react to development signals or environmental signals,” said a statement from Kyoto University.
The research also suggests that viral tes played a role in shaping human evolution. By tracing the way in which the DNA has changed over time, the researchers discovered that the sub -family had evolved differently within the taken of different animals, which contributed to the biological evolution that resulted in people, chimpanzees and macaakk.
“Understanding the evolution of our genome is a way to understand what makes people unique,” he said. “It will enable us to understand aids to understand human biology, human genetic diseases and human evolution.”
Exactly how these Te’s were involved in the evolutionary process is still unclear, Chen said. It is also possible that other TEs who still have to be identified play different roles in the evolution process of primates, he added.
“The study offers new insights and potential lifting points for understanding the role of TEs in shaping the evolution of our taken,” said Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Jena, Germany, who was not involved in the study. The research “also underlines how much more there is to learn from a kind of DNA that was once charged as a molecular freeloader,” he added in an e -mail.
Hoffmann was the lead researcher of a scientific article that for the first time documented the almost complete genome map of the Greenlandse shark, the longest living vertebrate in the world that can survive up to around 400 years old. The gender of the shark consisted of more than 70% jumping genes, while the human genome consists of less than 50%. Although the primary differences of those of a shark, “the study offers further evidence of the potential impact of TEs on genome regulation” and “is a message with relevance for all genome researchers,” said Hoffmann.
By investigating how taken evolved, researchers can determine which DNA sequences have remained the same, which were lost in time and which were most recently created.
“Taking into account these sequences is often crucial for the concept, for example why people develop diseases that certain animals do not do,” said Hoffmann. “Ultimately, a deeper understanding of genome regulation can help discover new therapies and interventions.”
Taylor Nicioli is a freelance journalist based in New York.
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