Posted by Jennie Visitacion on October 26, 2015

Researchers have detected viral proteins — and something that looks suspiciously like infectious viral particles — in early human embryos. Is that good, bad or both?

Ed Grow and Joanna Wysocka have found that these viral proteins are well-placed to manipulate some of the earliest steps in our development by affecting gene expression and even possibly protecting the embryo’s cells from further viral infection.

Read more about their discoveries in “And virus makes four” Fall 2015 Edition of the Stanford Medicine.