Ancient Retrovirus Sheds Light on Modern Pandemic, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Study Shows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A battle won by human ancestors against a virus that infected chimpanzees and other primates millions of years ago may have left people today more vulnerable to the AIDS virus, scientists said on Thursday.That ancient battle helped humans evolve and rely on a gene that may not protect so well against a modern retrovirus, the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, the researchers said.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC