Evolution and viruses

[PainRack]

The last time I posted this,it disappeared.So,here goes again.

1.Bacteria gain anti-biotics resistance through the absorbing of plasmids,which contain genetic material.This is an additional mechanism to breeding to spread genetic changes and exchange genetic material in a bacteria.

2.Scientists use viruses in genetic engineering to introduce genetic data.Some of these viruses are naturally occuring,and are suspected to cause cancer.(proof of genetic manipulating on human scale)

3.A huge portion of our DNA is full of "filler" DNA.DNA that doesn't do any important thing by itself,but appears to have import in the human chromoscone.


Well,the above facts gave me a brainstorming.Is it possible that environmental factors,like viruses,fungus,food or whatnot played a role in evolution through aiding the exchange of genetic material in humans?

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

The last time I posted this,it disappeared.So,here goes again.

1.Bacteria gain anti-biotics resistance through the absorbing of plasmids,which contain genetic material.This is an additional mechanism to breeding to spread genetic changes and exchange genetic material in a bacteria.

2.Scientists use viruses in genetic engineering to introduce genetic data.Some of these viruses are naturally occuring,and are suspected to cause cancer.(proof of genetic manipulating on human scale)

3.A huge portion of our DNA is full of "filler" DNA.DNA that doesn't do any important thing by itself,but appears to have import in the human chromoscone.


Well,the above facts gave me a brainstorming.Is it possible that environmental factors,like viruses,fungus,food or whatnot played a role in evolution through aiding the exchange of genetic material in humans?

You have viruses that insert a bit of their own code into the genetic code of their hosts. Of course, this is only to prompt the host to produce more viruses at some later point. That is a potential method of getting miscellaneous DNA into human cells. And it's also a way of inducing mutations.

The short answer is maybe. Viruses could likely have played a small role in inducing mutations and changes in people. And mutations help drive evolutionary processes.

[PainRack]

I was wondering more along the lines of whether there is another method of exchanging genetic data than just reproduction.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I was wondering more along the lines of whether there is another method of exchanging genetic data than just reproduction.

In micro or macroorganisms?

It seems my reply here before was wiped out.