Changes

A [[Retrovirus]] is a virus that incorporates itself into an host cell's DNA, and programs the host cell to produce copies of the cell.  [[Endogenous retrovirus]]es are retroviruses that infected an organism's [[germ cell]]s, and were thus passed to the next generation, and incorporated into the organism's genetic line over time.

A [[Retrovirus]] is a virus that incorporates itself into an host cell's DNA, and programs the host cell to produce copies of the cell.  [[Endogenous retrovirus]]es are retroviruses that infected an organism's [[germ cell]]s, and were thus passed to the next generation, and incorporated into the organism's genetic line over time.

Researchers estimate that 1% of the human genome is occupied by retroviruses, constituting approximately 30,000 different retroviruses.<ref>Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Retroviruses and primate evolution." BioEssays 22: 161-171. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10655035&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>  Some of these viruses are shared by humans and apes.  <ref>Lebedev, Y. B., Belonovitch, O. S., Zybrova, N. V, Khil, P. P., Kurdyukov, S. G., Vinogradova, T. V., Hunsmann, G., and Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Differences in HERV-K LTR insertions in orthologous loci of humans and great apes." Gene 247: 265-277.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10773466&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>

Researchers estimate that 1% of the human genome is occupied by retroviruses, constituting approximately 30,000 different retroviruses.<ref>Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Retroviruses and primate evolution." BioEssays 22: 161-171. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10655035&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>  Some of these viruses are shared by humans and apes, and are found in the same place in the respective genomes.  <ref>Lebedev, Y. B., Belonovitch, O. S., Zybrova, N. V, Khil, P. P., Kurdyukov, S. G., Vinogradova, T. V., Hunsmann, G., and Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Differences in HERV-K LTR insertions in orthologous loci of humans and great apes." Gene 247: 265-277.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10773466&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>

From these facts, evolutionists argue that these retroviruses are shared by humans and primates because they were inherited by a common ancestor.   

From these facts, evolutionists argue that these retroviruses are shared by humans and primates because they were inherited by a common ancestor.   

==== Criticism ====

==== Criticism ====

However, in making this inference, they ignore the observed fact that many retroviruses can infect both humans and apes.  The most notable of these is [[HIV]], which is widely believed to have originated as [[SIV]] in chimpanzees, but can also infect humans and other monkeys.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5012268.stm</ref>  It is entirely possible, therefore, that humans and apes were ''independently infected'' with the same virus, and therefore shared endogenous retroviruses do not provide any meaningful evidence of common ancestry.

Evolutionists gloss over two important facts when making this argument: First, many retroviruses can infect both humans and apes.  The most notable of these is [[HIV]], which is widely believed to have originated as [[SIV]] in chimpanzees, but can also infect humans and other monkeys.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5012268.stm</ref>  It is entirely possible, therefore, that humans and apes were ''independently infected'' with the same virus, and therefore shared endogenous retroviruses do not provide any meaningful evidence of common ancestry.  Second, some retroviruses have been shown to have highly targetted insertion points, meaning that the virus selects very specific segments of the genome for insertion.<ref>Citation: (2004) Retroviral Gene Vectors Show Clear Target Preferences. PLoS Biol 2(12): e443 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443 [http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443&ct=1]</ref>  Consequently, it is entirely possible that the same virus infected both humans and apes, and targetted the same location.  This seems especially plausible in light of the fact that humans and apes have ''tens of thousands'' of endogenous retroviruses in their respective genomes -- at least a ''few'' of the retroviruses are likely to infect both humans and apes at the same location.

Additionally, scientists have determined that some endogenous retroviruses are indispensible.<ref>http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ANSC/Sep1106b.htm</ref>  This presents the possibility that retroviruses were used as part of the creative process.

Additionally, scientists have determined that some endogenous retroviruses are indispensible.<ref>http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ANSC/Sep1106b.htm</ref>  This presents the possibility that retroviruses were used as part of the creative process.