Scientists Discover Virus-Like 'Lifeforms' Inside Human Bodies

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Scientists Discover Virus-Like 'Lifeforms' Inside Human Bodies
Stanford UniversityResearchersVirus-Like
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Stanford University researchers have found virus-like 'lifeforms' inside human mouths and guts that can transfer genetic information to cells. These tiny bits of RNA, called obelisks, colonize bacteria and their purpose is still unknown.

Stanford University researchers have discovered virus-like ‘lifeforms’ that exist inside human mouths and guts. Smaller than a virus and not considered standard life, the genetic material can still transfer information that can be read by a cell. We had no idea these things existed, and we certainly aren’t certain yet what they do. We’re not sure if it’s exciting or not that scientists just discovered new ‘lifeforms’ inside of our bodies.

Tiny bits of RNA, smaller than a virus, colonize bacteria inside our mouths and guts and have the power to transfer information that can be read by a cell. Dubbed ‘wildly weird’ by the team of Stanford scientists writing about the find in Nature, the discovery now has a name: obelisks. And we... don’t really know their end goal. “It’s insane,” said Mark Peifer, a cell and developmental biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to Science. “The more we look, the more crazy things we see

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Stanford University Researchers Virus-Like Lifeforms Human Bodies Genetic Material Transfer Information Cells RNA Obelisks Bacteria Discovery

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