SOME cases of schizophrenia may be caused by viruses activating ancient viral
DNA lurking in our genome, claim researchers in the US. If so, it might be
possible to treat or even prevent the disease with antiviral drugs.
We all carry around retroviral DNA from viruses that inserted themselves into
the human genome millions of years ago. These “endogenous” retroviral genes are
similar to those of retroviruses such as HIV, but they are usually inactive and
don’t cause problems.
Now David Yolken of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his colleagues
have found traces of active endogenous retroviruses in the…
