'Fossil viruses' embedded in the human genome linked to psychiatric disorders

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

Specific versions of genes, or gene variants, have been tied to these disorders, but not much is known about the influence of HERVs."We were fascinated by the concept that existed in the human genome and so much was not known about them," study co-author Timothy Powell, a neuroscientist and molecular geneticist at King's College London, told Live Science.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Previously, scientists have studied the role of HERVs in psychiatric disorders by comparing the genetic material of individuals without such disorders with that of people affected by a given disorder. A drawback of this method, however, is that it doesn't account for the influence of environmental factors or other conditions a person may have.

"This gives us much more certainty that the genetic differences we're seeing between cases and controls are more likely to be a true reflection of the biology of the disorder," Rodrigo Duarte, a research fellow at King's College London, told Live Science.

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Scientists made mice with Y chromosomes female by deleting just 6 tiny moleculesSahana Sitaraman is a science writer based in Lausanne, Switzerland, specializing in biology. She particularly enjoys writing about unusual animal behaviours and the neuroscience behind them, mental health and women in STEM. She also dabbles in illustrating cool findings that pique her interest.
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