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About 8% of the human genome consists of the DNA sequences of ancient retroviruses (endogenous retroviruses). Some of these sequences produce proteins that might increase vulnerability to disease. In the past 15 years, we have learned that ≈1% of humans also have inherited the genomes of two other viruses: human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A and HHV-6B. Many millennia ago, these viruses infected egg or sperm cells and have been passed on to future generations in a Mendelian fashion; the viral DNA is present in every cell and is capable of making viral proteins and even creating whole viruses. Previously, endogenous HHV-6A/B was associated with higher risk for preeclampsia (NEJM JW Gen Med May 21 2020; [e-pub] and Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:901). But does…