Virus evolution (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, June 04, 2013, 22:50 (4190 days ago)

"The complex network of evolutionary relationships the authors describe suggests that viruses evolved from non-viral mobile genetic elements and vice versa, on more than one occasion.-The recent discovery of virophages inside the giant viruses, which in turn infect amoeba, has led to speculation about their origin and their relationship to other viruses and small transposable genetic elements"-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130523004605.htm-We are just beginning to learn about virus origin and evolution. Our DNA and chimp DNA has the same segments that look like virus DNA, encorporated in the distant past. But that is just a guess. Perhaps some kind of mixed-up DNA evolved all branches of life and viral partial life.