Viruses Shape Humanity

Influenza, HIV, and the [man-made] SARS-CoV viruses are, of course, pathogens. However, most viruses are not enemies or killers. Without them, life as we know it would not exist. Viruses are ubiquitous. They are in our oceans, our environment, in animals, plants, bacteria, in even in our bodies, where they account for a substantial portion of our genomes. They influence our weather, can contribute to control obesity, and can surprisingly be applied against threatening multi-resistant bacteria. The success story of the viruses started more than 3.5 billion years ago in the dawn of life when even cells did not exist. They are the superpower of life. There are more viruses on earth than stars in the sky. Viruses are everywhere. Some of them are incredibly ancient. Many viruses are a hundredfold times smaller than bacteria, but others are tenfold bigger, and these were discovered only recently, hidden within the permafrost in places like Alaska.