These so-called endogeneous retroviruses (ERVs) are actually trophies of ancient molecular battles between viruses and their human hosts — one which the humans eventually won. “Some 8 per cent of human DNA represents fossil retroviral genomes,” pointed out Weiss in his seminal research paper in 2010. A gene called Trim 5 alpha is believed to have helped humans make a protein to purge the virus. The rapid evolution of viruses and emergence of the new coronavirus Covid-19 has once again shown that viruses evolve by the same means as humans. Many of these viruses hop from animals to humans and evolve, swapping genetic material in and out of respective genomes.

Source: The Telegraph March 29, 2020 14:15 UTC