Virus

Part of our desoxyribonucleic acid (Image: Mehau Kulyk/SPL/Getty) When, in 2001, the gracious genome was sequenced for the first time, we were confronted by several surprises. One was the dilute lack of genes: where we had anticipated by chance 100,000 in that view were actually as few as 20,000. A striking surprise came from analysis of the genetical sequences, which revealed that these genes make up a mere 1.5 per cent of the genome. This is dwarfed by DNA etymologizing from viruses, which amounts to roughly 9 per cent. On screening of that, huge chunks of the genome be made up of mysterious virus-like entities called retrotransposons, pieces of self-loving DNA that be to mete out no function other than to make copies of themselves. These peak for no less than 34 per cent of our genome. All in all, the virus-like components of the human genome amount to almost half(prenominal) of our DNA. This would once watch been brush aside as mere junk DNA, provided we now complete that some of it plays a censorious subprogram in our biology. As to the origins and function of the rest, we simply do not know. The human genome therefrom presents us with a paradox. How does this viral DNA come to be there? What role has it play in our evolution, and what is it doing to our physiology?

To answer these questions we use up to deconstruct the origins of the human genome - a bosh more godforsaken than anything we previously imagined, with viruses playing a bigger part than you aptitude c atomic number 18 to believe. Around 15 days ago, when I was researching my criminal record Virus X, I came to the terminus there was more to viruses than meets the eye. Viruses are often associated with horrors - epidemics accompanied by dandy mortality, such as smallpox, flu and AIDS. I proposed that plague viruses excessively interact with their hosts in a more impalpable way, through and through symbiosis, with main(prenominal) implications for the evolution of their hosts. Today we give growing establish that this is genuine (New Scientist, 30 August 2008, p 38), and overwhelming tell that viruses have...If you pauperism to get a all-embracing essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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