Scientists discover new life forms inside human bodies, remarking 'it's insane'

Every time we think we’re close to fully understanding the human body, something fresh and unexpected shows up. Recently, a team of researchers stumbled upon strange entities, or obelisks, living inside of human bodies that had escaped notice until now.

Their surprising presence challenges assumptions and raises pressing questions about what else might be lurking unseen inside us.

These new visitors appear smaller than the viruses most people learn about in basic biology classes. Rather than behaving like familiar microbes, they introduce themselves as something different.

Their discovery came about when researchers began analyzing massive genetic libraries, searching for patterns that did not match any known organisms.

Obelisks inside humans

These obelisks do not resemble typical life forms, and their name comes from their distinctive shape.

“It’s insane,” says Mark Peifer, a cell and developmental biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). “The more we look, the more crazy things we see.”

They resemble what scientists call viroids, which are infectious loops of RNA known for their effects on plants.

Obelisks share certain traits with these plant pathogens, yet they appear in human-associated bacteria.

According to Matthew Sullivan, an integrative biologist at Ohio State University, the health implications for humans remain unclear.

Understanding RNA – the basics

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a vital molecule that plays several important roles in all living cells. Think of it as the messenger that helps turn the genetic instructions stored in DNA into the proteins that build and repair your body.

Unlike DNA, which usually forms a double helix, RNA is typically single-stranded and can fold into different shapes to perform various functions.

There are different types of RNA, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) which is a key component of ribosomes, the cell’s protein factories.

But RNA isn’t just about making proteins — it also helps regulate how genes are expressed and can even act as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions.

For example, some RNA molecules can turn genes on or off, controlling what proteins are made and when. This regulation is crucial for everything from development to responding to changes in your environment.

Strange RNA loops

Viruses often have protective shells made of proteins. Obelisks seem to lack that familiar coat. Instead, they carry RNA instructions around in tiny loops.

Unlike standard viruses, they do not appear to encode protein shells. These differences suggest that life’s definitions might need some rethinking.

Obelisks throughout human bodies

It is not just a single type of obelisk. Thousands of unique varieties have turned up when scientists comb through genetic datasets.

Discoveries have emerged from multiple locations around the world, indicating that these intruders are not rare oddities tucked away in one place.

Not only are these obelisks found far and wide, they also appear in different parts of the human body. They have cropped up in bacteria from the mouth and in those dwelling in the intestinal tract.

The genetic signatures hint that distinct types prefer particular regions. This suggests an intricate relationship with our internal ecosystems, though it is too soon to say what they are doing there.


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