“About 1.2% of the human genome is made up of genes, things that encode for proteins, the stuff that we consider us. There is about 8.3% that's a virus. In other words we're probably about seven times more virus than we are human genes, which is kind of a weird way to thinking about yourself.” ThinkingWayHumansKindMadeStuffSevenAbout YourselfGenesVirusesProteinThinking About YouGenomeThinking About Yourself Author:Carl Zimmer
“We have Borna virus genes. We're part Borna virus, which is weird, but apparently our cells and our genomes in a weird way might actually be grabbing these viruses, grabbing genetic material from the viruses that are infecting it and pulling them into their own genome.” WayMightMaterialsCellsGenesPullingVirusesGrabbingGenome Author:Carl Zimmer
“The only kinds of ways we have to deal with viruses are old school, so vaccines for example are very effective, but the first vaccines were invented in the 1700's, so we're talking about technology that is over 200 years-old.” WayYearsFirstsKindSchoolDealsTalkingTechnologyExampleVirusesVaccinesOld School Author:Carl Zimmer
