The real revolution came in 2012, when researchers Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier harnessed CRISPR, a natural bacterial defense system. In bacteria, CRISPR cuts out invading viruses’ DNA ...

Human DNA in its natural state inside cells (left) compared to eight hours after being infected with HSV-1 (right). The virus compacts the human genome’s size significantly and moves it towards the ...

Ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome may boost people's susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A study published in May in the ...

In a surprising discovery, a "sticky molecule" that occurs naturally in our blood vessels could be both a culprit behind ...

Ancient viruses embedded in human DNA millions of years ago may play a role in raising people’s risks of depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The viral genes have unusual activity levels in ...

A common virus that infects most people can trigger the chronic immune system condition lupus, according to a new study.

One of humanity's most ubiquitous infectious pathogens bears the blame for the chronic autoimmune condition called systemic ...

Scientists have long known that a significant portion of the human genome is made up of the remnants of ancient viruses; these sequences are a subset of transposable elements known as endogenous ...

An international team discovered that ancient viral DNA fragments help regulate genes essential for placental function. The ...

Distinguishing between self and non-self is a critical ability of the immune system. Some pathogens have evolved proteins that resemble those of their host, a mechanism called molecular mimicry, in an ...