This Virus Shouldn't Exist (But it Does)

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell2 minutes read

Microorganisms battle for resources in the microverse, while viruses, despite being non-living, are the most abundant and deadly entities, targeting living organisms. The origin of viruses is still a mystery, with giant viruses like gyruses challenging assumptions and showcasing complex interactions in the microverse.

Insights

  • Viruses, though not alive, are the most abundant and lethal entities on Earth, targeting living organisms for colonization, raising questions about their origin and the mystery surrounding their emergence.
  • Giant viruses called gyruses have upended traditional views on viruses, possessing intricate genetic structures that challenge the distinction between living and non-living entities, showcasing complex interactions such as virophages hunting gyruses and the potential existence of a gyrus immune system.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What are some common microorganisms in the microverse?

    Amoeba, protists, bacteria, archaea, and fungi are common microorganisms in the microverse, engaging in battles for resources and space.

  • How do viruses impact living organisms?

    Despite not being alive, viruses are the most abundant and deadliest beings on Earth, targeting living things for takeover and killing trillions daily.

  • What is the origin of viruses?

    The origin of viruses remains a mystery, with theories suggesting they may have emerged from different origins multiple times, challenging scientific understanding.

  • What are giant viruses known as gyruses?

    Giant viruses, known as gyruses, have complex structures and possess hundreds or thousands of genes that can alter the physiology and evolution of their victims, blurring the line between living and dead entities.

  • What are virophages and how do they interact with gyruses?

    Virophages are viruses that hunt gyruses, showcasing intricate interactions in the microverse. The potential existence of a gyrus immune system against virophages highlights the complexity of these relationships, still largely unexplored despite recent discoveries.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Microverse Battles: Viruses, Gyruses, Virophages Unveiled"

  • Microorganisms like amoeba, protists, bacteria, archaea, and fungi engage in a fierce battle for resources and space in the microverse.
  • Viruses, despite not being alive, are the most abundant and deadliest beings on Earth, killing trillions daily, solely targeting living things for takeover.
  • The origin of viruses remains a mystery, with various theories suggesting they may have emerged from different origins multiple times.
  • Giant viruses, known as gyruses, have challenged assumptions about viruses, with some even hunting other viruses like virophages.
  • Gyruses are highly complex, blurring the line between living and dead entities, possessing hundreds or thousands of genes that can alter the physiology and evolution of their victims.
  • Virophages, viruses that hunt gyruses, and the potential existence of a gyrus immune system against virophages showcase the intricate interactions in the microverse, still largely unexplored despite recent discoveries.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.