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Zombies in our genes

Zombies in our genes helped us evolve, and could help battle cancers




Viruses are ubiquitous entities that have long plagued humans, often presenting in pesky, self-limiting infections, like a bout of the common cold. While most viral encounters are transient and merely inconvenient, some can have devastating or chronic consequences, leading to severe disease or even death. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging infectious diseases around us are good examples.

However, this battle between host and pathogen churns up a fascinating question: could viral infections have reshaped the human genome in the process?
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs)
These remnants of ancient viral infections are embedded in the human genome and are often called "zombie" regions. ERVs were previously thought to be inactive, but recent studies suggest they can play a role in cancer. For example, the LTR10 retroelement in humans is thought to affect the formation of colorectal cancer tumors.

The LIF6 gene

This gene may have helped elephants evolve into their current size by suppressing or eliminating cancerous cells. It's thought that the TP53 gene and the LIF6 gene work together to stop cancer growth by suppressing damaged DNA.

Evolutionary tricks

Researchers can use evolutionary tricks to learn how defunct genes became functional again. For example, researchers can learn how the LIF6 gene was turned back on in elephants.

Here's some more information about ERVs and retroviruses:
Retroviruses are a group of viruses that can integrate and reshape the genomes of the hosts they infect.

ERVs are important for the existence of mammals because they helped the placenta evolve.

Cancer cells express many genes that shouldn't be on, and many of the switches that turn them on come from ancient viruses.

retroviruses, endogenous retroviruses, human evolution, ancient viruses, viral DNA, genetic material, immune system, cancer research, tumor suppression, gene regulation, antiviral defense, molecular biology, genome integration, epigenetics, cancer therapy, immunotherapy, genomic innovation, cellular mechanisms, human genome, evolutionary biology

#ZombiesInOurGenes, #HumanEvolution, #EndogenousRetroviruses, #AncientViruses, #GeneticInnovation, #ImmuneDefense, #CancerResearch, #TumorSuppression, #GeneRegulation, #AntiviralMechanisms, #Epigenetics, #ViralDNA, #GenomeIntegration, #CancerTherapy, #Immunotherapy, #MolecularBiology, #GenomicInnovation, #EvolutionaryBiology, #CellularMechanisms, #HumanGenome

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