COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Could Drastically Affect Human Biological Evolution
I was listening to Episode 88 of the podcast Sean Carroll’s Minscape, where host Sean Carroll converses with paleontologist Neil Shubin. Around one hour and eleven minutes in, Neil states the fact that about eight percent of our human genome is comprised of defunct viruses (the science world refers to these as endogenous retroviruses) [1]. These are viruses that entered our genome at some part of human evolutionary history, and our bodies absorbed. For perspective, only two percent of our genome are our genes [2].
So what the heck are all those viruses doing up in there?
Well, some are mutating into proteins that are vital to the human experience.
Activity Regulated Cytoskeletal (Arc) protein is directly involved with the process of developing memories. Mutations or deficiencies of this protein result in dementia and other memory related illnesses [3]. Under a telescope, Arc is almost indistinguishable from Human Immunodeficient Virus (HIV) [4].
It appears to be that Arc is an ancient virus that invaded a distant human ancestor, which we have since domesticated and repurposed [5]. It’s also known that the protein syncytin (responsible for forming the placenta) developed from a retrovirus infection [6].
COVID-19 is super contagious [7]. Honestly, we’ve all likely been exposed (or eventually will be) but aren’t aware since we can carry the virus without showing symptoms [8].
If viruses can cause humans to develop memories and placentas, subsequent developments from viruses are almost unimaginable! I can’t say, nor am I qualified to, when or if absorbing COVID-19 will actually result in a shift in human development/progression. But there is something particularly intriguing about the fact that in a very short period of time, a large portion of the human population is absorbing this infectious agent which has the potential to drastically affect the way our species develops and functions.
[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107103621.htm
[2] http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2012/issue127a/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22622366
[4] https://massivesci.com/articles/arc-protein-mind-control-memory-brains-shepherd-utah-tedmed-alzheimers/
[5] https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2020/03/16/88-neil-shubin-on-evolution-genes-and-dramatic-transitions/
[6] http://www.virology.ws/2017/12/14/a-retrovirus-gene-drove-emergence-of-the-placenta/
[7] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/asia/china-coronavirus-contain.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus&variant=show®ion=BELOW_MAIN_CONTENT&context=storyline_guide?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus&variant=show®ion=TOP_BANNER&context=storyline_menu#transmission
[8] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Ftransmission.html
