The evolutionary history of a gammaretrovirus currently colonizing the mule deer genome is marked by extensive recombination

The genomes of several outbred species including mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are currently being colonized by endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which provides an opportunity to study ERV dynamics at a time when few are fixed. In this project, we investigate the history of cervid endogenous retrovirus (CrERV) acquisition and expansion in the mule deer genome to determine the potential impact of endogenizing retroviruses on host genomic diversity.