DNA can be purposely modified or just by random mutation.
Barbara McClintock discovered the “ jumping genes” – whole sequences of DNA
that moved from one place to another during times of some environmental
stress. These jumping genes are constantly
“cut and paste” and “copy and paste. Also, what we consider as the “junk” DNA (
DNA that does not code for proteins) actually is the main source of jumping
genes.
Retroviruses are made of RNA, and can be written into DNA. For example, HIV is a retrovirus and the
drug “cocktail” therapy used to resist HIV by stopping the enzyme that helps
the retroviruses become part of DNA. The retroviruses that are part of our DNA
are called HERV, and it’s function is to produce a healthy placenta
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