Viruses can modify human evolution through horizontal gene transfer
Multiple studies demonstrate that ancient viral infections have contributed significant genetic material to the human genome through endogenous retroviruses, actively shaping human gene regulation, immunity, and evolution via horizontal transfer processes.
The claim is that viruses can modify human evolution through horizontal gene transfer, which is well-documented by the incorporation and exaptation of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprising about 8% of the human genome. Papers 0 through 8 all discuss the presence, evolutionary dynamics, and functional integration of ancestral viral elements in the human genome. The retrieved literature robustly supports the concept that retroviral insertions have historically contributed genetic and regulatory sequences to human genomes, directly aligning with horizontal gene transfer modifying human evolution.
Hitoshi Ohtani, Minmin Liu, Wanding Zhou, G. Liang, Peter A. Jones. Switching roles for DNA and histone methylation depend on evolutionary ages of human endogenous retroviruses. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1101/gr.234229.118
Paper [0] discusses how human endogenous retroviruses make up a significant portion of the human genome and have undergone evolutionary changes over time.
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K. Kitsou, M. Iliopoulou, V. Spoulou, P. Lagiou, G. Magiorkinis. Viral Causality of Human Cancer and Potential Roles of Human Endogenous Retroviruses in the Multi-Omics Era: An Evolutionary Epidemiology Review. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.687631
Paper [1] explores the integration of viral elements into our genome and their evolutionary role in human pathophysiology and multi-omics research.
Can Chen, Yanru Cui, Shixiang Wang, Yuze Yang, Zunpeng Liu, Su-Han Jin, Fangqian Shen, U. Gaipl, Hu Ma, Jian-guo Zhou. Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Diseases. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70452
Paper [2] highlights that endogenous retroviruses, as remnants of ancient infections, comprise nearly 8% of the human genome and influence gene expression and evolution.
Wenjie Ma, Chencheng Ji, Abudukelimu Abudushataer, Ning Liu, Tao Xu, Kunlun Zhao, Yiguan Qian, Paerhati Tuerxun, Xiaotian Jiang, Zhongli Xiong, Min Wang, Ruipeng Jia, Zheng Xu, Yang Li, Yu-Zheng Ge. The expression, regulation, and function of human endogenous retroviruses in genitourinary cancers. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02820-2
Paper [3] examines how human endogenous retroviruses represent genomic remnants of ancestral infections that colonized the germline through evolutionary processes.
Mengliang Ye, M. Rotival, Sebastián Amigorena, Elina Zueva. Transposon invasion of primate genomes shaped human inflammatory enhancers and susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64690-7
Paper [4] shows that transposons and endogenous retroviruses have uniquely reshaped primate genomes and spread novel regulatory sequences over evolutionary time.
Gabriel Arantes dos Santos, Nathalia Da Roz D'Alessandre, Gabriela Der Agopian Guardia, Rafael Loch Batista, Pedro A. F. Galante. Endogenous retroviruses in aging and cancer: from genomic defense to oncogenic activation. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13100-025-00383-8
Paper [5] details the evolutionary persistence and exaptation of endogenous retroviruses within mammalian genomes.
Paul Nelson, Graham Freimanis, Denise Roden. Human Endogenous Retroviruses; Evolutionary Dynamics, Chromosomal Location and Host Benefit. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0020831
Paper [6] notes that human endogenous retroviruses are remnants of past infections integrated into the human genome that have provided selective advantages and regulatory functions.
Gennadi V. Glinsky. Endogenous human stem cell-associated retroviruses. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1101/024273
Paper [7] discusses how endogenous retroviruses have seeded thousands of human-specific regulatory sequences, helping maintain pluripotency and evolutionary adaptation.
Sahar M. A. Al-Mothafer. Vestigial vigilance: Reactivating dormant evolutionary pathways in human immunity. 2026. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2026.19.3.1262
Paper [8] outlines how human endogenous retroviruses constitute a substantial portion of the human genome and reflect ancestral evolutionary adaptations.
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