Recent studies conducted by researchers on Koalas have revealed that ancient infected DNA could have changed the course of evolution. The research was published in Cell, which primarily targeted the Koala retrovirus also known as KoRV, This virus belongs to the category of HIV virus and started inserting itself into the Koala genome 40,000 years ago. This virus which has been passed on from one generation to another is considered to cause a change in the evolution of the species. 

How retrovirus leads to change in evolution

Koalas have suffered from chlamydia and cancers like leukemia. While studying the solutions to these problems, these studies brought scientists to ask how these viruses insert themselves into the animal DNA and also can cause a change of course in evolution. The scientists have discovered that there has been a constant insertion of viruses into the genes of animals. Approximately 8 percent of the human gene structure consists of viruses. These viruses, however, belong to the ancient viruses -some of them existing even before humans.

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Retrovirus capable of activating other ancient viruses

Scientists reported in Cell that they observed the Koala’s genome immune system fighting to render the virus inactive after the virus had established itself in the Koala DNA. The researchers also believe that the Koala retrovirus is capable of activating other ancient viruses in the DNA. These changes in the gene structure of Koala can lead to possibilities of mutations and variations which form the new bases for natural selection. 

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Retrovirus becomes a permanent part of DNA

These Retroviruses are responsible for causing cancer and making the immune system weak. However, if these retroviruses are inserted inside a sperm or egg, the insertion becomes permanent and the virus becomes part of the animal DNA. Once they become endogenous and are a permanent part of the inherited DNA, they cease to cause the original infection. The research proved that the insertion of retrovirus was not just causing cancer in the organism but also changing to their genome leading to change in the course of evolution. 

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