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I'm a graduate student studying the molecular and biochemical evolution of HIV within patients and within populations. I also study epigenetic control of ERVs.
ERVs, endogenous retroviruses, are leftover bits and pieces of retroviruses that have infected germ cells (sperm, eggs) millions of years ago.
Sometimes our genome steals genes from ERVs, like mammals stole env genes to make our placentas, but usually we just let those ERVs rot into dysfunctional and nonfunctional bits and pieces.
This ERV is a graduate student in Oklahoma studying the evolution of viruses, especially retroviruses, and how that evolution impacts our health.