4 ms·
Genome analysis shows "approximately 98,000 ERV elements and fragments making up 5–8%" of the human genome - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous_retrovirus
by eesmith 5y ago
Genome analysis shows "approximately 98,000 ERV elements and fragments making up 5–8%" of the human genome - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous_retrovirus#Human_endogenous_retroviruses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endogenous_retrovirus#Human_en... and only "one family of viruses has been active since the divergence of humans and chimpanzees. ... HERV-K".
If the body regularly incorporated foreign RNA into the genome then I would see a much higher rate of incorporation in the genome.
The paper only discusses DNA synthesis from RNA.
Retroviruses need more than DNA synthesis. They also need a way to get the DNA to the nucleus and into the genome. HIV uses retroviral integrase for the latter.
So, if by "interact with DNA" you mean "changes the genome", then this paper changes nothing.
("Interact" is a very broad word; water interacts with DNA because water molecules bump into it all the time.)