New discovery shows human cells can write RNA sequences into DNA
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210611174037.htm
“Cells contain machinery that duplicates DNA into a new set that goes into a newly formed cell. That same class of machines, called polymerases, also build RNA messages, which are like notes copied from the central DNA repository of recipes, so they can be read more efficiently into proteins. But polymerases were thought to only work in one direction DNA into DNA or RNA. This prevents RNA messages from being rewritten back into the master recipe book of genomic DNA. Now, Thomas Jefferson University researchers provide the first evidence that RNA segments can be written back into DNA, which potentially challenges the central dogma in biology and could have wide implications affecting many fields of biology.”
“”This work opens the door to many other studies that will help us understand the significance of having a mechanism for converting RNA messages into DNA in our own cells,” says Richard Pomerantz, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Thomas Jefferson University. “The reality that a human polymerase can do this with high efficiency, raises many questions.” For example, this finding suggests that RNA messages can be used as templates for repairing or re-writing genomic DNA.”
Stephanie Seneff writes about this:
https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/23
“Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are benign sections in the DNA of humans that closely resemble retroviruses, and that are believed to have become permanent sequences in the human genome through a process of integration from what was originally an exogenous retrovirus. Endogenous retroviruses are abundant in all jawed vertebrates and are estimated to occupy 5-8% of the human genome. The protein syncytin, which has become essential for placental fusion with the uterine wall and for the fusion step between the sperm and the egg at fertilization, is a good example of an endogenous retroviral protein.”