Bird genomes contain ‘fossils’ of parasites that now infect humans

In rare instances, DNA is known to have jumped from one species to another. If a parasite’s DNA jumps to its host’s genome, it could leave evidence of that parasitic interaction that could be found millions of years later — a DNA ‘fossil’ of sorts. An international research team has discovered a new type of so-called transposable element that occurred in the genomes of certain birds and nematodes.