TWiV #91 - You're an ERVous wreck

On episode #91 of the podcast This Week in Virology , Vincent, Dickson, Alan, Rich and Welkin discuss the nature, origin, and evolution of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), and the recent finding of endogenous filovirus genomes in mammals. Host links Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Alan Dove , Rich Condit , and Welkin Johnson Links for this episode: Welkin blogs at Small Things Considered Constructing primate phylogenies from ancient retrovirus sequences ( PNAS ) Filoviruses are ancient and integrated into mammalian genomes ( BMC Evol Biol ) Synthetic cells: Momentous breakthrough or ethical morass? ( To The Point ) Creation of a bacterial cell ( Science ) Comments on the synthetic cell ( Small Things Considered ) TWiV rap: T-Number Index by G-Unit (mp3) and Vincent (mp3) (thanks, Darrick and Scott!) Letters read on TWiV 91 Weekly science picks: Welkin - Advice for a Young Investigator by Santiago Ramon y Cajal Rich - How microbes define and defend us Dickson - H1N1 virus lacks 1918 virus killer protein Alan - The Xtal Set Society Vincent - Antibodies and the quest for an AIDS vaccine