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This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It
The New York Times • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have discovered a virus carrying a human gene it acquired from our ancestors about 100,000 years ago, marking the first known instance of a virus with a recently acquired human gene.
- The virus may be using this stolen human gene to enhance its ability to infect human cells.
- Viruses replicate by hijacking host cell machinery, and during this process, they can accidentally incorporate segments of the host's DNA into their own genetic material.
- Such gene transfers can have significant implications, including the spread of traits like antibiotic resistance among bacteria-infecting viruses.
- This discovery highlights the complex interactions between viruses and their hosts and the potential health risks posed by viral gene theft.
