The human genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes, biological drawings that make people … Okay, human. However, it turns out that some of our DNA – about 8% – are the remains of ancient viruses that insert into our genetic code during human evolution.
These ancient viruses are located in our DNA chapters, known as the transfer elements, or te, also known as “jumping genes” because of their ability to copy and paste themselves throughout the genome. TEs, which make up almost half of our genetic materials, once mentioned as “spam” DNA, sequences that seem to have no biological function. Now a new study suggests that these remains of the ancient virus play a key role in the early stages of human development, and could have been involved in our evolution.
After sex, the international team of researchers identified hidden patterns that can be very important for gene control, gene activation and shutdown process. The conclusions were published on July 18. Science Advances magazine.
“Our genome has been a sequence long ago, but many parts of it remain unknown,” says Dr. Fumitaka Inoue. “It is believed that the transposed elements play an important role in the evolution of the genome, and their significance is expected to become clearer as research will continue to improve.”
Exploring the activation of gene expression has many advantages. This could help researchers understand the role that sequences played in human evolution, revealing potential relationships between TE and human illness, or teaching researchers on how to direct functional in the TES gene therapy, said the main researcher dr. Xun Chen, Calculation Biologist and Basic Investigator at the Shanghai Immunity Institute and the Infection of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In more research, “We hope to find out how, especially ERV (endogenous retroviruses or ancient viral DNA), makes us human,” Chen added. In the letter.
Inserted ancient virus DNA
When our ancestors were infected with viruses, viral genetic information sequences would repeat and insert themselves into various host chromosomes.
“Ancient viruses effectively invade our ancestors’ genomes, and their residues become a large part of our genome. Our genome has created many of these ancient virus control mechanisms and eliminated their potential harmful consequences,” said dr. Lin HPP, molecular biologist and Thomas and lecturer of the exclusive chairman of the Seebel.
Mostly these ancient viruses are inactive and are not concerned, but in recent years, studies have shown that some of the transposed elements can play an important role in human diseases. 2024. In July The study investigated the ability to silence certain TE to make the cancer more effective.
“During evolution, some viruses are degenerated or removed, some essentially repressing the normal expression of development and physiology, and some are domesticated to serve the human genome,” he said, who was not related to the new study. “While some ancient viruses are perceived as harmful, we can become part of us by providing raw materials to the genome innovation.”
However, due to their repetitive nature, the elements are very difficult to explore and organize. Although the sequences are divided into families and subjects, depending on their function and similarity, many of them have been poorly documented and classified, “it can have a major impact on their evolutionary and functional analysis,” Chen said.
The effect of ancient virus on human development and evolution
New studies show that ancient viruses may have contributed to the evolutionary process that causes people, chimpanzees and macaques. – Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty Images
The new study was dedicated to a group of sequences called Mer11, found in primates genomes. With a new classification system, as well as checking DNA gene activity, the researchers found four previously undiscovered subjects.
It has been found that a recently integrated sequence called MER11_G4 has a strong ability to activate gene expression in human stem cells and early stage neural cells. Conclusions show that this subspecies plays an important role in early human development and can “dramatically affect how genes respond to developmental signals or hints of the environment,” said a statement by Kyoto University.
Studies also show that viral TE participated in the formation of human evolution. Tracking the DNA way over time changed, researchers found that the subjects developed differently in the genomes of different animals, contributing to the biological evolution that caused people, chimpanzees and macaks.
“Understanding the development of our genome is one way to understand what makes people unique,” he said. “It will give us the opportunity to understand human biology, human genetic diseases and human evolution.”
Chen said that exactly the way they were related to the evolution process is still unclear. It may also be that others, who still have to be identified, played a different role in the evolutionary primates, he added.
“The study provides new insights and potential leverage points to understand the role of T in the development of our genome,” said Dr. Steve Hoffmann, in Jena, Germany of the Leibniz Institute of Aging, which did not participate in the study. The study also “emphasizes how much more is learned from a particular type of DNA, once slandering as molecular freeeloader,” he added by email. In the letter.
Hoffmann was the main researcher of a scientific document, who first captured a genome map of Greenland shark, the longest -living vertebrate, which can survive up to about 400 years. The shark genome accounted for more than 70% of the jumping genes, with less than 50% of the human genome. Although the genomas of primates are different from the shark, “the study provides additional evidence of the potential effects of TE on genome regulation” and “is the message that is important to all genome researchers,” Hoffmann said.
By exploring how genomas have evolved, researchers can determine which DNA sequences have survived the same ones that have been lost on time and have recently emerged.
“Given these sequences, it is often necessary to understand, for example, why people have diseases that some animals do not have,” Hoffmann said. “After all, a deeper understanding of genome regulation can help you discover new treatments and interventions.”
Taylor Nigioli is a freelance journalist located in New York.
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