00:00The junk DNA that made us human. For decades, vast stretches of our DNA were dismissed as
00:06junk, useless filler in our genetic code. Scientists couldn't figure out what these
00:11mysterious sequences did, and they were largely ignored. But groundbreaking new research is
00:16forcing us to completely rethink this idea. It turns out, this junk DNA, often relics of
00:23ancient viruses, didn't just passively exist in our genome, it actively drove human evolution.
00:28Nearly half of our genetic material is made up of these viral remnants. They're known as
00:34transposable elements, or a-jumping genes, because they have the ability to move around within our
00:39DNA. We now know that about 8% of the human genome is composed of these fragments from ancient viruses
00:45that integrated into our ancestors' chromosomes millions of years ago. A pivotal study published
00:50in Science Advances has flipped the script on this long-held belief. This all connects to a viral
00:56legacy embedded deep within us. When our primate ancestors got sick with viral infections,
01:02fragments of the virus's genetic material sometimes became a permanent part of their DNA.
01:07While most of these fragments were inactive, some transposable elements began to perform
01:12beneficial functions, essentially becoming raw material for genetic innovation.
01:17An international team of researchers delved into a specific group of these sequences called
01:21MER11. They discovered that one subfamily, MER11-G4, performs a remarkable function, it activates genes
01:30in human stem cells and early neuronal cells. This suggests that these viral relics were not just
01:36dormant passengers. They were actively influencing how our genes reacted to developmental signals,
01:41essentially guiding our early growth and adaptation.
01:44Dr. Sun Chun from the Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection says that understanding
01:49how these elements work could provide crucial clues about human diseases and open new pathways for
01:54gene therapies. Other experts highlight an even more astonishing fact, some ancient viruses were
02:00effectively domesticated by the genome to serve key biological functions. By comparing these sequences
02:06across different primate species like humans, chimpanzees, and macaques, researchers were able to see the
02:12differences that likely influenced the unique development of each species. As one researcher
02:18put it, these findings show just how much there is to learn from DNA once considered a molecular parasite.
02:24This analysis not only clarifies our evolutionary history but also helps explain why humans develop
02:29certain diseases that other animals do not. What was once dismissed as genetic clutter is now understood
02:35as a dynamic, influential force that helped sculpt the very essence of human life.
02:40It's a powerful reminder that in science, what seems like junk today could be the key to unlocking future
02:46medical breakthroughs. Money Explainers
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