Changes

=== Shared endogenous retroviruses ===

=== Shared endogenous retroviruses ===

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 (ERVs) 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, 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>

Researchers estimate that 1% of the human genome is occupied by ERVs, constituting approximately 30,000 different ERVs.<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 ERVs 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 ERVs are shared by humans and primates because they were inherited by a common ancestor.   

==== Criticism ====

==== Criticism ====