Scientists have created a map of the ancient virus in mammalian genomes
Scientists painstakingly analyzed the remains of ancient virus genomes 38 species of mammals. Periodically affecting the body retroviruses fall in its genes.
Even rarer these relics are passed from generation to generation: the science calls them endogenous retroviruses (valve).
"Jumping" from one part of the genome to another, given the opportunity, for example, accidentally breaking the anti-cancer mechanisms at the gene level and it was so increase the risk of development of malignant tumors.
English scientists have found in the genomes of 38 species of animals 27711 the valve that has accumulated over the past 10 million years. There is such a precedent: the larger the animal, the more his body "removed" from genome data potential sources of cancer. The research results are presented in the journal PLoS Pathogens, and the short of its content is provided on the website of the University of Plymouth
"Cause of cancer - missteps that accumulate in the cells as they are crushing. Accordingly, larger than the animal, the more cells, the more it must get cancer. In other words, blue whales have to die from cancer dozens. However in reality the size of the animal does not have a big impact on vulnerability to cancer (the biology of this is called phenomenon Peta)", - tells the doctor Robert Bello (Robert Belshaw).
Everything was exactly the opposite: a small animals the valve is much more. In mice (average weight - gr 19), for example, 3331 the valve, people (weigh about 60 kg) their 1085, and whales - a total of 55. For the first time, scientists have found that the abundance of the valve in the genome is considered to be dangerous - or large animals would not get rid of them. Apparently, the fact that the valve is associated with mutations in consequence of which in the body begin to develop a malignant tumor.
Under this option, the large animals have yet unknown to science weapon against endogenous retroviruses. Theoretically it could be for population source newest antiviral substances.
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