All articles tagged with #viral dna
Researchers show that non-human DNA discarded during whole-genome sequencing can be repurposed to detect and quantify Epstein–Barr virus DNA in human cells, using a method described by Nyeo et al. in Nature. This population-scale approach lets biobanks reveal persistent EBV DNA and its links to complex diseases, turning sequencing byproducts into a new source of epidemiological insight.
A study shows that space stress causes human stem cells to become insomniacs and age faster, potentially activating dormant viral DNA that could turn cells into zombie-like states, highlighting health risks for long-term space travel. However, these effects are reversible upon returning to Earth.
A recent study reveals that ancient viral DNA embedded in our genome, particularly the MER11 family of transposable elements, plays a significant role in regulating gene expression during early human development. Researchers developed a new classification method to better understand these elements and found that the youngest subfamily, MER11_G4, has a strong ability to activate gene expression and has evolved distinct regulatory functions, contributing to primate evolution.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that ancient viral DNA, previously considered 'junk', plays a significant role in regulating gene expression, especially in early human development, with new classification methods uncovering their regulatory potential and evolution across primates.