The parent of the HIV virus was the product of a union between two monkey viruses, genetic detective work has revealed.

This genetic mixing occurred in a chimpanzee at least one million years ago, although it is thought that HIV did not cross into humans until the 1930s. But the discovery has prompted researchers to speculate that chimps may still harbour other HIV-like viruses that could jump to humans.

The complex genetic history of HIV viruses came to light when researchers tried to construct family trees connecting the different genomic elements in the viruses. If the viruses shared the same genetic history, you would expect these trees to match up, but they did not.


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