Natural GMOs Part 215. Genetically modified people | The Economist

Genetically modified people. Human beings’ ancestors have routinely stolen genes from other species

At The Economist 14 March 2015 print edition

OPPONENTS of genetically modified crops often complain that moving genes between species is unnatural. Leaving aside the fact that the whole of agriculture is unnatural, this is still an odd worry. It has been known for a while that some genes move from one species to another given the chance, in a process called horizontal gene transfer. Genes for antibiotic resistance, for example, swap freely between species of bacteria. Only recently, though, has it become clear just how widespread such natural transgenics is. What was once regarded as a peculiarity of lesser organisms has now been
found to be true in human beings, too. 

…But it might surprise many people that they are even to a small degree part bacterium, part fungus and part alga.

Continues at The Economist @ Horizontal gene transfer: Genetically modified people | The Economist:

Update: Jonathan Eisen is not convinced by the study: It seems The Economist was swayed by press releases not the the cautious original paper.

Horizontal gene transfer into humans? I am not convinced.Full text of my comments to reporters here