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Scientists find Megavirus
#1
Scientists find Megavirus
A virus so big you can see it with an ordinary light microscope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15242386

On the subject of pathogens I wonder if viruses were responsible for evolution?
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#2
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
You dig up some great news WC.
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#3
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
(October 11, 2011 at 6:39 pm)Welsh cake Wrote: On the subject of pathogens I wonder if viruses were responsible for evolution?

Viruses have undoubtedly played some role in the history evolution. Noted biologist Lynn Margulis (use to be Carl Sagan’s wife), the mother of endosymbiotic theory, has shown us that horizontal gene transfer was a big part of evolution. It is hard to imagine that viruses have not played an important role in our evolution considering that about 10% of human DNA consists of viral insertions. Margulis is on record as saying she believes horizontal transfer is probably at least as important to evolution as natural selection. That’s a controversial position, but so was her stance on endosymbiotic theory when she first published on it in the 60’s.

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#4
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
Quote:Margulis is on record as saying she believes horizontal transfer is probably at least as important to evolution as natural selection.


Wait... What about fucking jesus?!!!
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#5
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
(October 11, 2011 at 9:01 pm)Minimalist Wrote:
Quote:Margulis is on record as saying she believes horizontal transfer is probably at least as important to evolution as natural selection.


Wait... What about fucking jesus?!!!

I don’t think sexual reproduction counts as horizontal transfer Min. So fucking Jesus would have little effect unless you got a retrovirus from him. Wink

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#6
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
You count your way and I'll count mine!
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#7
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
One theory for the origin of sexual reproduction was that it counters horizontal gene transfer.
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#8
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
That's what I call intelligent design!
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#9
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
(October 11, 2011 at 11:41 pm)Minimalist Wrote: That's what I call intelligent design!

No doubt.

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#10
RE: Scientists find Megavirus
(October 11, 2011 at 11:40 pm)Chuck Wrote: One theory for the origin of sexual reproduction was that it counters horizontal gene transfer.

Could be but like any successful biological entity viruses seem to have adapted in order to deal with that.

Quote:Coalescent analysis of HERV-K106 3′ LTR sequences representing 51 ethnically diverse individuals suggests that HERV-K106 integrated into the human germ line approximately 150,000 years ago, after the emergence of anatomically modern humans.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Ado...ne.0020234

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