some retroviruses are now genomic fossils

Categories: Comparisons

An example of metaphor in popular science writing:

"Long ago in our evolutionary history, some retroviruses became fully established in our genomes. Many are now genomic fossils, and so they can never again produce viral particles. But some still contain all the components required to make new viruses. These are normally kept under very tight control by the cell."

Nessa Carey (2015) Junk DNA. A journey through the dark matter of the genome. London: Icon Books Ltd.

Read about metaphor in science

Read about examples of science metaphors

Many examples of science metaphors are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.