How ancient viral DNA shapes early embryonic development

A new study from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) in London, UK, reveals how ancient viral DNA, once considered ‘junk’, plays a crucial role in the first moments of life. The research, published in Science Advances, begins to unravel the role of an ancient viral DNA element called MERVL in mouse embryonic development and provides new insights into a human muscle-wasting disease.