From Virus to Human

I was watching this program last night on the NatGeo channel that talked about how viruses may have been what was responsible for making us what we are today! Amazing! I mean, we know that viruses are naturals when it comes to invading cells, taking over the DNA and getting it to do what the virus wants it to do. Basically biological mind-control. It is believed that this is the same method they used billions of years ago to get the first DNA strands in the ground to form a new life form. I've always been fascinated by viruses, and I didn't know why! LORD knows I've suffered through several! I've had streptococci in my throat and ears, bronchitis--which I think I am still suffering the effects of, sinus infections, influenza many times before, rhinovirus better known as the common cold, and many others. But for some reason, I've always been fascinated by viruses. I think it's how they alter our bodies the way they do. I think I've known all along, just by going through as many viruses as I've had, that they were most likely the first ones to bring life to this world by somehow altering something. But back in those days, I was not aware of genetics and DNA and the like.

Well anyway, it was a good show! It was on NG Explorer. I always knew viruses were animals, little single-celled animals, but to think that it could have been viruses that made us what we are today, just by taking over the DNA in other animals before our species. That is why chimps have almost all our DNA and no other animal comes that close. There are even some chimps that can walk upright. I remember hearing of a chimp named Oliver, and he always walked upright, never on his knuckles like other chimps. That could have been caused by a virus invading the sperm cell that eventually became him, altering the DNA that would have told him to walk on his knuckles like other chimps, to instead walk on his hind feet like we do. Humans as a species, could have been affected the same way early in our development. Then those dominant genes could have mixed together with other dominant genes in the opposite sex to create a species that walks solely on their feet instead of using the hands and feet. So with viruses invading genes and doing a little bit of natural alterations, nothing in evolution is impossible. Only the things that would make it impossible for a species to survive, like an animal with only one eye or an animal born with no nose.

So these researchers traced the path between viruses and how they developed humans. That's cool!! To say the least! Another way I've found viruses most fascinating!