TWiV 218: Monkeys turning valves and pushing buttons

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Welkin Johnson

Vincent, Alan, and Welkin discuss how endogenous retroviruses in mice are held in check by the immune response.

Links for this episode:

• Kuan-Teh Jeang, 54
• Resurrection of ERVs (Nature)
• Toll-like receptors control ERVs (Immunity)
• Retroviral danger from within (Immunity)
• Ancient viruses wreak havoc (The Scientist)
• Letters read on TWiV 218

Weekly Science Picks

Welkin - Viruses: Essential Agents of Life (review at STC)Alan - Infinity ImaginedVincent - Spaceship built for son

Listener Pick of the Week

Amanda - Written? Kitten!Kevin - Protein synthesis: An epic (YouTube)Daria - The Baltimore Scheme

Send your virology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twiv@twiv.tv