Viruses

What are viruses? Viruses are information with an envelope. Viruses consist of a long RNA molecule with information (genes). This molecule with information is wrapped in a high-tech protein envelope. The protein envelope has a sophisticated key mechanism to open cells and enter the cell. Once the RNA molecule has entered a cell, it infiltrates the cell’s normal processes. The cell is tricked and induced to produce millions of new viruses.

How did viruses develop? It is not yet possible to say exactly. It can be assumed that it was parts of bacterial genetic material that became independent. Instead of remaining dutifully in the bacterium and waiting for the next bacterial division, RNA gene snippets were released from the bacterium and entered bacteria swimming past in order to multiply in them and then set off again.

The gene transfer between bacteria is quite high. Sometimes bacteria incorporate floating RNA genomes from dead, burst bacteria. Viruses are therefore RNA molecules that no longer leave this gene transfer to chance, but have optimized it to their advantage.

Viruses have no metabolism. They are information in a shell with a plug. They are comparable to USB sticks that move around on their own. USB sticks do not need a charging cable or battery. If a virus-like USB stick has hijacked a computer, the USB stick forces the computer to produce millions of new USB sticks and load them with the software from the first USB stick. Because viruses do not have their own metabolism, they are not counted as living organisms.

Viruses mutate very quickly and are therefore very adaptable. With their low mutation rate, long-lived multicellular organisms have no chance of winning the race against viruses. Multicellular organisms have two main weapons against viruses: the immune system and sexuality.

You can find out how sexuality helps us to keep viruses in check in the chapter „Sex und Tod“