TWiV 472: The riddle of the skinks

The TWiV team reveal the origin of the poxvirus membrane, and how a retrovirus drove the development of the placenta of a lizard.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

• ASV 2018: asv.org, asv2018.umd.edu
• Support Microbe.tv
• Origin of poxvirus membrane (PNAS)
• Poxvirus movies: Movie S1, Movie S2, Movie S3, Movie S4, Movie S5
• Lizard placenta from a retrovirus (PNAS)
• Letters read on TWiV 472

Weekly Science Picks

Kathy - Google doodles Discoverer of photosynthesis Robert Koch Dickson - Nature Photography Winners Rich - The Raging Idiots Planet Song Alan - Zooborns Vincent - Glass Insects and Plants by Yuki Tsunoda

Listener Picks

Scott - Sagan Series Paul - SMBC Comics Trudy - If Scientists Wrote Christmas Songs

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees.

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv