The theory that identical ERVs or HERVs (human endogenous retroviruses) found at a similar location in the genome of both humans and chimps, thus proving a common ancestor, has been found to be completely contrary to recent studies. Newer studies now show numerous cases of multiple identical ERV sites found in COMPLETELY UNRELATED SPECIES: sheep/fox, cat/baboon, possum/chimp, bird/cat, etc. and the list keeps growing... Statistically, we can no longer conclude these are unique situations pointing to any proof whatsoever of common descent. It is most likely that initial studies were done primarily on humans and chimps rather than other mammals and this skewed the data.
Recent discoveries show genetic sequences labeled as ERVs are MANDATORY FOR BASIC BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS WITHOUT WHICH SURVIVAL IS IMPOSSIBLE:
A partial list of mandatory functions recently discovered to be directly attributed to ERVs:
a) Large-scale regulation of our genome as a whole.
b) Direct support and regulation of our immune system.
c) Aid in the production of countless proteins mandatory for life.
d) Prevention of miscarriages.
e) Mutations within retrovirus-like sequences actually cause disease, thus proving their mandatory nature.
f) Etc., etc., etc..
The most parsimonious explanation for this is that retroviral-like elements are not ERVs but INTRINSIC genetic material that have always existed in our genome as a necessity for life, rather then leftover foreign pathological viruses.
1) How could humans and other animals survive at all without the genetic materials essential for life BEFORE they became infected by ERVs?
2) Why don't we see ERV insertions into germ cells today?
3) Why would such infections be preserved, even through apoptosis and unfavorable selection of infected organisms?
4) What made ERVs change from viral activities and acquire transcriptional abilities to create essential genes?
5) What made ERVs immediately turn into essential gene regulators upon insertion?
6) Why have ERVs - initially pathological - NEVER been proven to cause disease but have been proven to be favorable for life instead?
7) What made the identical ERV transcribe differently in humans and chimps?
Way too many hard questions for which the answers make no sense - without genetic fantasy scenarios - and more importantly, remain unproven. Ad hoc (makeshift or improvised) arguments WITHOUT POSITIVE EVIDENCE are often used in an attempt to explain away these inconsistencies and maintain an evolutionary bias.
"A clear PROOF for the existence of a HERV capable of productive replication REMAINS ELUSIVE..."
(Ref: PNAS October 5, 2004 vol. 101 no. Suppl 2 14572-14579)
“Our data reveal that the activity of endogenous retroviruses is regulated differentially and is cell type specific, SIMILAR TO NORMAL GENE REGULATION … our findings suggest that HERVs BEHAVE LIKE NORMAL CELLULAR GENES and are a permanent component of the transcriptome of a cell.” (Ref: Journal Of Virology, 1/2005)
“In short, the notion that molecules of germ cells … are in states of perpetual change is not, in our present understanding of cell biology, tenable. This doesn’t mean that “molecular change” does not occur; only that mechanisms provoking such change in germ cells are likely instantaneous and stochastic and probably OFTEN LETHAL – which WILL PRECLUDE their persistence into future generations.”
(Ref: MIT Press Journals, Fall 2006, Vol.1)
"Several ERVs appear to PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM INFECTION and are INVOLVED IN REPRODUCTION...Studies in cultured cells have shown that a protein of a HERV might have a ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN PLACENTA...Miscarriage is a serious medical problem for all mammals, including humans." (Ref: "ERVs are Required for pregnancy in Sheep", Science Daily)
"Within this locus we find two incidents of independent, multiple SINE insertion events at identical sites. These results have major repercussions for phylogenetic analyses based on SINE insertions, indicating the need for caution before interpreting shared SINE insertions as incontrovertible evidence of common ancestry..." (Ref: Genetics: An Ancient Retrovirus-like Element Contains Hot Spots for SINE Insertion)
Romans 1
...they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their MAGINATIONS, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Recent discoveries show genetic sequences labeled as ERVs are MANDATORY FOR BASIC BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS WITHOUT WHICH SURVIVAL IS IMPOSSIBLE:
A partial list of mandatory functions recently discovered to be directly attributed to ERVs:
a) Large-scale regulation of our genome as a whole.
b) Direct support and regulation of our immune system.
c) Aid in the production of countless proteins mandatory for life.
d) Prevention of miscarriages.
e) Mutations within retrovirus-like sequences actually cause disease, thus proving their mandatory nature.
f) Etc., etc., etc..
The most parsimonious explanation for this is that retroviral-like elements are not ERVs but INTRINSIC genetic material that have always existed in our genome as a necessity for life, rather then leftover foreign pathological viruses.
1) How could humans and other animals survive at all without the genetic materials essential for life BEFORE they became infected by ERVs?
2) Why don't we see ERV insertions into germ cells today?
3) Why would such infections be preserved, even through apoptosis and unfavorable selection of infected organisms?
4) What made ERVs change from viral activities and acquire transcriptional abilities to create essential genes?
5) What made ERVs immediately turn into essential gene regulators upon insertion?
6) Why have ERVs - initially pathological - NEVER been proven to cause disease but have been proven to be favorable for life instead?
7) What made the identical ERV transcribe differently in humans and chimps?
Way too many hard questions for which the answers make no sense - without genetic fantasy scenarios - and more importantly, remain unproven. Ad hoc (makeshift or improvised) arguments WITHOUT POSITIVE EVIDENCE are often used in an attempt to explain away these inconsistencies and maintain an evolutionary bias.
"A clear PROOF for the existence of a HERV capable of productive replication REMAINS ELUSIVE..."
(Ref: PNAS October 5, 2004 vol. 101 no. Suppl 2 14572-14579)
“Our data reveal that the activity of endogenous retroviruses is regulated differentially and is cell type specific, SIMILAR TO NORMAL GENE REGULATION … our findings suggest that HERVs BEHAVE LIKE NORMAL CELLULAR GENES and are a permanent component of the transcriptome of a cell.” (Ref: Journal Of Virology, 1/2005)
“In short, the notion that molecules of germ cells … are in states of perpetual change is not, in our present understanding of cell biology, tenable. This doesn’t mean that “molecular change” does not occur; only that mechanisms provoking such change in germ cells are likely instantaneous and stochastic and probably OFTEN LETHAL – which WILL PRECLUDE their persistence into future generations.”
(Ref: MIT Press Journals, Fall 2006, Vol.1)
"Several ERVs appear to PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM INFECTION and are INVOLVED IN REPRODUCTION...Studies in cultured cells have shown that a protein of a HERV might have a ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN PLACENTA...Miscarriage is a serious medical problem for all mammals, including humans." (Ref: "ERVs are Required for pregnancy in Sheep", Science Daily)
"Within this locus we find two incidents of independent, multiple SINE insertion events at identical sites. These results have major repercussions for phylogenetic analyses based on SINE insertions, indicating the need for caution before interpreting shared SINE insertions as incontrovertible evidence of common ancestry..." (Ref: Genetics: An Ancient Retrovirus-like Element Contains Hot Spots for SINE Insertion)
Romans 1
...they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their MAGINATIONS, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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