Copies Quote by Carl Zimmer
“Parasites are not only incredibly diverse; they are also incredibly successful. There are parasitic stretches of DNA in your own genes, some of which are called retrotransposons. Many of the parasitic stretches were originally viruses that entered our DNA. Most of them don't do us any harm. They just copy and insert themselves in other parts of our DNA, basically replicating themselves. Sometimes they hop into other species and replicate themselves in a new host. According to one estimate, roughly one-third to one-half of all human DNA is basically parasitic.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Evolution from Our Microbial Ancestors, 2008
Parasites, including viral DNA remnants, make up a large portion of our genome and persist by copying themselves.
In simple terms: DNA contains many parasitic elements that replicate themselves.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the hidden viral heritage in our DNA.
Themes
biology
genetics
evolution
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
scientific
informative
When to use this quote
- genome research
- medical genetics
- evolutionary studies
Key Concepts
retrotransposons
viral integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do parasitic DNA elements affect human health?
- What mechanisms keep them from harming us?
A Different Perspective
These elements can sometimes cause disease or genomic instability.
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