Endogenous retroviruses are ancient, dormant parasitic viruses which, in the majority of cases, have been inactivated by mutation and evolution. However, research in BioEssays suggests that the pressure of the ‘parental arms race’ during pregnancy may resurrect endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in the placenta.
To discuss this, author Edward Chuong will be joined by George Kassiotis, David Haig and BioEssays Editor-in-Chief, Andrew Moore, in a live Google Hangout debate.
“A growing body of evidence suggests that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been repeatedly co-opted for placental evolution, but whether these examples are isolated events or represent a larger trend in which ERVs "drive" placenta evolution remains an open question,” said Dr. Edward Chuong from Stanford University School of Medicine. “I suggest that the placenta faces unique evolutionary pressures that favor recurrent ERV co-option. Parent-offspring conflict over the allocation of maternal investment during pregnancy has been proposed to drive a coevolutionary "arms race" between mother and fetus at the placental interface.”
Join the Discussion: Google Hangout:
Thursday September 19, 3:00 PM (BST), 4:00 PM (CET), 10:00 AM (US Eastern)
Join here.
