A long noncoding RNA uses viral mimicry to achieve developmental gene silencing across a chromosome.

A 'phyloregulatory' approach reveals how human endogenous retrovirus type-H, a family of human endogenous retroviruses, diversified its regulatory sequences through multiple mutational mechanisms to partition its transcriptional activity spatially and temporally within the human embryo.

The reconstitution of a functional envelope protein from an extinct hominid retrovirus reveals its receptor and an ancient host defense that may have led to the extinction of the virus.

Soon after fertilisation, a critical portion of the embryonic genome is switched on through the actions of maternally inherited Stella, in part through controlling the activation of transposable elements.

Endogenous virus sequences in the genomes of modern mammals reveal the global spread of an ancient virus lineage, including frequent interspecies transmission, adaptation, and emergence spanning several million years of mammalian evolution

Comparing the white-footed deermouse with mice and rats in an inflammation model reveals a means for the observed infection tolerance in this key animal reservoir for several human diseases.

To protect the germ line genome, chickens acquire new small RNA-based immune defense in response to recently endogenized retroviruses by turning a truncated provirus into a weapon.

The genetic 'fossil record' of a retroviral lineage over >25 million years of evolution reveals the profound consequences of an ancient recombination event on viral replication mechanisms and genome structure, and identifies an ancient interspecies viral transmission.

Primates have co-opted a viral gene to produce an envelope protein that prevents infection by the HERV-T virus and likely contributed to the extinction of this virus.