In theory, any virus capable of infecting germ cells can plant its genetic load into the sperm/ova that will eventually become offspring. So are most viruses inheritable? Really, if your parents ever got a cold or the flu, you should be born with the virus already incorporated into your genetics. So are there loads of people walking around with inherited viral infections, and if not, why?
A Universal childhood virus is inherited in DNA.
A virus that causes a universal childhood infection is often passed from parent to child at birth, not in the blood but in the DNA, according to a new study.
... Her team is now investigating what this means for the children.
Researchers found that most babies infected with the HHV-6 virus, which causes roseola, had the virus integrated into their chromosomes. Not only that, but either the father or mother also had the virus in the chromosomes, suggesting it was a germline transmission – passed on in egg or sperm.