virus, n.Trivia

Viruses are not exactly alive: they do not have cells, they cannot turn food into energy, and without a host they are just inert packets of chemicals.

Half of all human DNA originally came from viruses, which infected and embedded themselves in our ancestors' egg and sperm cells

A virus is tiny --- it is a hundredth the size of our cells

Men may feel the symptoms of a virus more than women because high levels of testosterone can suppress the immune system.

Nearly 8% of the human genome is virus DNA. Meaning some of our ancestors survived a virus but still carry the DNA it inserted.

Human DNA is up to 8% made up of ancient viruses that used to infect us and make us ill

If a virus were the size of a nickel, a bacteria would be the size of a dinner plate and you would be 125 miles tall

A virus is partially living --- viruses can sometimes insert DNA into a bacterium through it appendage

Viruses not exactly dead: they have genes, they reproduce, and they evolve

A virus is not exactly dead. It has genes, reproduces, and evolves through natural selection

A virus is not exactly alive. It is an inert packet of chemicals without a host -- it has no cells, no ability to turn food into energy,