Announcements of the latest animal to have its genome sequenced are come so loggerheaded and fast non - biologists may wonder at the point . However , the late sequencing of thekoala genomeis demo how much other species ' genomes can teach us . In fact , koala genetics could be key to a magnanimous portion of the human genome , and explain retroviruses in distant species .
" retrovirus insert their genome into their innkeeper ’s chromosome , from where they make more copies of themselves,“explainedProfessor Paul Young of the University of Queensland , co - source of a Modern study published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . " Some can also infect what are known as germline cells , which alter the host transmitted codification and that of all their posterity . "
Today humanity is chivvy by retroviruses in the shape of HIV and thehuman T - cell lymphotropic computer virus . On the other hand , some 5 million years ago a retrovirus found its way into our genetic inheritance . The virus may have had ab initio waste health effect , but eventually it and humanity form a bargain – it discontinue harm its hosts , and they passed its genetic sequence on in the pattern of “ dust DNA ” , the part of our genome that does not code for proteins . This system has stuck through the evolution of multiple specie to hold out as roughly 8 percent ofHomo sapiens ' genome .
Young noted that , while we can see the bequest of this retrovirus taming in our genetic code , we do n’t make love how it happened . However , retrovirus transmission of koalas is happening justly now , suppressing their immune system and making them vulnerable to sure Cancer , but furnish a live demo of retrovirus internalisation .
Young says , at this point , the retrovirus is not fix in its position in the native bear genome , allowing us to see the relationship evolve .
At the same university , Dr Gregory Simmons is exploring the koala retrovirus ' background , noting its law of similarity to one infecting the native Australian grassland mosaic - tag dirty dog ( Melomys burtoni ) .
“ The melomys virus is closely related to koala bear retrovirus , but it is also close related to the Hylobates lar ape leukaemia retrovirus and may be another strain of this virus , ” Simmonssaid . “ It was then apparent that the two computer virus almost sure as shooting divvy up a common ancestor and are the event of fussy - species transmission in the past . ”
InVirus Genes , Simmons previously proposed the computer virus reached gibbons from melomys relatives , via humanity .
Koalas and gibbons are too geographically distant to have infect each other . Instead , Simmons proposes the computer virus somehow transfer from melomys relation in Papua New Guinea to humans , make the jump to Edward Gibbon from biological waste sample . If true , the possibility emphasizes the danger ofzoonotic disease – transmitted from animal to human – goes both ways .
