TurtleOnASkateboard@lemmy.ml to

Ask Science@lemmy.worldEnglish · 7 hours ago

Are there beneficial viruses?

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Are there beneficial viruses?

TurtleOnASkateboard@lemmy.ml to

Ask Science@lemmy.worldEnglish · 7 hours ago

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threelonmusketeers
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7 hours ago
I assume you mean beneficial to humans?

Viruses make up a large portion of Earth’s ecosystem, and a large class of them help keep bacteria in check.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage

There are even efforts to try and harness them to treat bacterial infections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phage_therapy
- Telorand@reddthat.com
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  Additionally, a good chunk of our DNA is from ancient viruses, so homosapiens wouldn’t be what we are today without viruses.

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