3 ms·
Yes, there are several types of viruses that purposely insert things into DNA. In fact, a significant part (more than half?) of our DNA comes from viruses (but
by gpvos 5y ago
Yes, there are several types of viruses that purposely insert things into DNA. In fact, a significant part (more than half?) of our DNA comes from viruses (but is inactive).
Coronaviruses are not known to do this, so I'd bet on a lab error for now. But it is conceivable.
- chme 5y agoNot sure where you all get your numbers from, when it is even explicitly mentioned in the posted article: > The enzyme, reverse transcriptase, is encoded by LINE-1 elements, sequences that litter 17% of the human genome and represent artifacts of ancient infections by retroviruses.
- coldacid 5y agoThis isn't a case of the viruses themselves purposely inserting their code into our DNA, but rather enzymes that we produce ourselves doing it.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]