Half Human and Half Virus; A New View

I have been sitting on this, trying to make sense of it.  Basically, we are the result of a DNA virus.  Have a great weekend!

Seriously, some interesting facts about what you are:

1. Scientists expected 100,000 genes in the human DNA, we found 20,000
2. 34% of those 20,000 genes are considered "junk" because they copy themselves but serve no function.
3. Half of the human genome can be traced to a virus.
4. The virus genes have shown to be vital to the formation of specific organs in the human body.

In short, it is interesting to note that retroviruses that have symbiosis with our DNA may have helped to shape our evolution and development.

I, virus: Why you're only half human - life - 29 January 2010 - New Scientist

A List of 50 Things We Didn't Know Last Year

Fantastic synopsis of the year in knowledge 2009.  Some examples:


9. Babies pick up their parents' accents from the womb, and infants are born crying in their native dialect. Researchers found that French newborns cry in a rising French accent, and German babies cry with a characteristic falling inflection.


29. The human body emits a glow that is 1,000 times less than what our eyes can detect.


34. Nearly all animals emit the same stench when they die, and have done so for more than 400 million years.


38. A chemical component in broccoli can protect the lining of arteries from blockage that leads to angina, heart attack and stroke.


50. Watermelon is more efficient at rehydrating our bodies than drinking water. It contains 92 percent water and essential rehydration salts.

AT&T - 50 Things we know now that we didn't know this time last year