Where Did Viruses Come From?

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to to.pbs.org/Dona...
↓ More info below ↓
Learn more about CuriosityStream at curiositystream...
There are fossils of viruses, of sorts, preserved in the DNA of the hosts that they’ve infected. Including you. This molecular fossil trail can help us understand where viruses came from, how they evolved and it can even help us tackle the biggest question of all: Are viruses alive?
Produced for PBS Digital Studios.
Want to follow Eons elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / eonsshow
Twitter - / eonsshow
Instagram - / eonsshow
References:
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
hal.archives-o...
bioinformatics....
www.sciencemag....
www.khanacadem...
serc.carleton....
www.nature.com...
www.nature.com...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.nature.com...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
www.theatlanti...
www.uniprot.org...
journals.plos.o...

[@eons]

Hi all. KZbin appears to be recommending this video due to the 2020 coronavirus outbreak. For reliable information regarding this outbreak, we recommend you visit the Center for Disease Control's website: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

[@Food4thought1234]

Yep, I know I already watched this, but it's good for a refresher :D

[@amon2498]

yea

[@jacoblowman7505]

That's why I'm here

[@johnnyneutron1530]

I’m actually here because I just got done watching the coronavirus stuff. But I genuinely like this show and I’m glad it got recommend.

[@shintenkai1648]

Just because I have too much time to think: "Corona" is an anagram for "Racoon" Shortening "Corona virus" result in "C virus" C virus was an evolved form of T virus that destroyed racoon city I also have no knowledge of biology and play way too much games. Enjoy the algorithm!

[@aideniridescence1437]

Can't believe these things evolved to also infect computers.

[@luisc7291]

😯jk

[@paranormalphenomena563]

@@luisc7291 can you be my friend

[@luisc7291]

@@paranormalphenomena563 yes

[@luisc7291]

@@paranormalphenomena563 😍ill give you my viruses

[@paranormalphenomena563]

@@luisc7291 I'm not a female btw

[@VaradMahashabde]

Why isn't this trending? This is VIRAL

[@VaradMahashabde]

Sorry Blake

[@Rainyumz]

Varad Mahashabde People have known this for a long time now..

[@kadorialgaming7553]

Uu du ding!

[@silvertiptetra1771]

Villainz YumzZ Varad Mahashabde • 5 months ago (edited)

[@confusednick5376]

I see what you did there.

[@alexiswoodberry9119]

Virus: * slaps roof of *human* * Virus: you can fit so much *pain and suffering* in here

[@u-thix2436]

*;-;*

[@JackBlackNinja]

@mwstar it too hard to tell

[@atlf3357]

Virus: *enters without consent*

[@curgest6807]

UwU ?

[@cupcakejack7375]

@mwstar for a virus probably the top of a cell

[@chocothun1]

A virus being a vine around the tree of life...makes so much sense.

[@India.H]

It's one of those sentences that on the one hand makes complete sense, but also makes no sense at all 😂

[@user-gd5tr7gw7s]

@@India.H It's a metaphore without true content.

[@james6401]

Bits of genetic micro factories floating around in a soupy biosphere copying themselves onto ( infecting) this and that organism. Fascinating stuff

[@algator55]

From Bill Gates funded Laboratory😤

[@anotherdave5107]

vines are alive

[@mixey01]

When you're in isolation and watching videos about why you are in isolation

[@solapowsj25]

If you're exposed to an infected person who may cough, and if the aerosol or droplets with virus enter deep into your lungs and cause pneumonia like condition, that would make you a critically ill patient needing oxygen or ventilator. 😷💊💉

[@salvitiello2738]

That's me ...man

[@tommybro5313]

This is not funny.

[@SunnyKumar-mz7mv]

Yo is this the end... It's horrible in India man

[@rigo62982]

People will line up for miles to get the vaccine and if you do not have it people will treat you like a witch in the vatican times..."Bill Cooper" 1996

[@DontHatemusiK]

"over time the relationship became more parasitic... Which sometimes happens......" *like*

[@analienfromouterspace]

marriage

[@psychronic8327]

People in general

[@jorgepeterbarton]

codependancy issues

[@ggittins4097]

Venom

[@francescadibologna4143]

hence 'toxic friends'.

[@Acsabi44]

Hey! I'm a molecular biologist, my field of expertise being early evolution and synthetic DNA constructs. Just wanted to say that I'm glad to see you did your homework well and explained all the more important aspects and theories behind viral evolution, and in an easy-to-understand way too. I myself believe the emergent complexity theory is right, maybe because I used to do a lot of research on really simple insertion elements (very basic DNA sequences that emerge in bacterial genomes and can jump around in DNA). and the way they enable more complex DNA constructs to evolve. As to wether viri are alive - Tough question. On one hand they lack a lot of key features that we define as life. On the other hand, they show behavior associated with advanced life, such as assessing their enviroment and making decisions based on their conditions. Anyway, congrats to your video, it was a treat to watch!

[@luthierjulesdesign]

"On the other hand, they show behavior associated with advanced life, such as assessing their environment and making decisions based on their conditions. " Take notice! Perfect follow-up video!

[@Zombieboss2002]

I don't know if you have heard of "viroids" but I think they are the basis for all life on the planet.

[@vlabiouzzz]

What if in the primordial soup, In a similar way amino-acids and RNA were made, probably a bit more complex viruses were made and they would just float or sink? aimlessly for eons, Like you can create sparks easier than creating a lightning (and once the lightning struck the long lasting relationship started, pretty much how mitochondria ended up in the cell.) - my guess is that they were created on the bottom of the ocean near volcanic vents, in porous rocks.

[@joshua43214]

I am a molecular geneticist (I also have a math degree), and I agree this was pretty well done. As for life, there is no question, viruses are not alive. The definition of "life" includes homeostasis. We are scientists, not lawyers. We don't to do the "it all depends on what 'is' is" thing. If we want viruses to be alive, then we need to change the definition of life just like we changed to definition of a planet to get rid of that pesky Pluto.

[@erikhafer1415]

Acsabi44 have you ever inspected Sasquatch DNA ?

[@yeahoh2222]

Are viruses alive? "Well yes, but actually no".

[@FlorenciaVM1]

Shrödinger's virus

[@juniorr2646]

😂😂😂 yes duh

[@joshuaa.kennedy8837]

I think the real reason is because of the pro lifers. " all life is pressies"

[@aboveanonymous4810]

@@joshuaa.kennedy8837 please dont unrelated topics into this commet thread.

[@joshuaa.kennedy8837]

@@aboveanonymous4810 how is that unrelated?

[@crescent_foxx1014]

Ah KZbin, how smart of you to recommend this to us during a pandemic. This video was actually very interesting though.

[@spacemanmexican6286]

I searched it up

[@BridgeStamford]

Numpty

[@LuisCasstle]

For you and 215 people maybe, not the other 4.5 million viewers. 🤣

[@patrickparker8417]

What pandemic.

[@generalzucc462]

I got it recommended after watching a video about bugs lmao

[@Scipio-Africannabis]

Whoever writes this show deserves a raise.

[@eustace8520]

I wrote it. I wrote every single thing. I narrate your life, his life, the sun's life, everyone's lives. Worship me!

[@cloroxbleach7377]

Brandon Hernandez okay daddy

[@rashoietolan3047]

You did , and are covertly demanding what you deserve Ancient strategy , let me know if it worked

[@Cindrylle_me14]

Shuli nag jugjug ke eyy!

[@elijah4973]

@@eustace8520 Okay

[@rmar127]

Would love to see a video about viruses that have actually caused beneficial mutations in their host.

[@alsinakiria]

I feel like they've mentioned it in passing a few times in other videos but haven't done a full video of its own. Like the one about why we have live birth.

[@alexbowman7582]

It’s recognised 8% of human DNA comes from viruses and some think it may be 50%.

[@messrsandersonco5985]

Herpes, AIDS and hepatitis have benefits against other diseases. However, I'm not sure that I'd see them as advantagous. For example, AIDS (a virus) makes you resistant to sickle cell disease because it changes the cell shape. Both are horrible diseases but you can live a long life (50) with sickle cell whereas an undiagnosed AIDS patient with full blown AIDS lives for 7-10 years with death following in 1-2 years. Getting diagnosed early and receiving appropriate treatment mkaeste difference between a 10-12 year life span and a normal life span.

[@josephjeon804]

"They're just bits of protein and genetic information that might give you some sniffles... or worse" Yup, it's quite worse right now.

[@seytersinep6610]

Hope u learn ur lesson

[@Nautilus1972]

Nope. We've seen MERS and SARS - bot corona viruses. SARS killed 744 people worldwide in 2004. I can't remember the figure for MERS. Corona viruses are associated with the common cold.

[@deepstariaenigmatica2601]

Rabies, nipah & ebola are even worse. Tbh doesn't get any worse than these three.

[@CyberDagger003]

@@Nautilus1972 Most of the viruses that cause the common cold are rhinoviruses. Of all of them, only two are coronaviruses.

[@CyberDagger003]

@@deepstariaenigmatica2601 Worse, yes. But those viruses are too greedy to cause a pandemic. They kill too quickly to infect enough new hosts. The Wuhan Coronavirus spreads easily and can remain dormant for weeks. It's possible to be a host without showing any symptoms, and you're a danger to those around you without even being aware of it.

[@ian_b]

First estimate:

[@shebahammy]

Get double crypto at N/A! Great funny comment, I bless you with the offer!

[@Salmanul_]

Of course it's now being recommended to everyone

[@TrizerFlame]

The video is spreading

[@jmitterii2]

It went viral. I know... but nobody else commented it yet.

[@mohamadalmahdi1299]

Corona time

[@nerdyninjatemptress]

Exynouz at least KZbin is trying to encourage people to learn about what’s happening in their bodies and how viruses work.

[@mohamadalmahdi1299]

That's true I never thought of that

[@Hyooonie]

These viruses have become so advance that it’s starting to walk on two legs and starts talking back to you

[@danstiver9135]

This was explained really well. If you try looking it up online, you’re more than likely going to find more complicated and harder to understand information on this topic, written for people who are already familiar with the basics in this field.

[@joeymooring5314]

Mr Shambleface Exactly!! I was thrown back to my freshman genetics class and the whole time I was watching I was thinking "why couldn't my professor just explain it like this??"

[@egg250]

Another very complicated subject simplified. The video showed 60% of the picture and i guess the remaining 40 is for ppl who r already familiar ;)

[@grumpledum]

Agreed this is science communication done well!

[@GabrielAlcala956]

@@grumpledum hey are you busy right now?

[@sawyerk19]

"Damn, viruses are scary" Prions: Hold my beer

[@simonethistle9069]

Lmao

[@johnrayordas]

Plague Inc. approves

[@Amaljayadev1]

Really

[@rbeEconomy]

Viruses infected some primate and so starts humans evolution....?

[@calvino6949]

@@rbeEconomy Prions are mal-folded proteins that causes surrounding proteins to be similarly incorrect, eventually causing cellular failure and death.

[@pranavrai99]

Since most of paleovirology is based on studying viral genome integrated into their hosts' DNA, I wonder is there any way to know about the natural history of RNA viruses that do not have a DNA intermediate in their life cycles?

[@MacLuckyPTP]

I think virology had it backwards.

[@robinbennett1686]

Not really. Viruses just reproduce and mutate so quickly that almost none of their older genes are still around, so we can't find common ancestors or anything like that.

[@bl1492]

white blood cells be like: 😡

[@DarkMage501]

*immune system has left the chat*

[@luisalamedaluna4067]

@@DarkMage501 Aids :c

[@blank9104]

🍥

[@jerungbiru55]

We need more T cells

[@vagabond4176]

ф ьепп ф AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LMAO 😂 I don’t get it... 😐

[@narendrakrane]

It's funny that this guys says it with a lot of conviction when he says it's in you, but immediately resorts to words like "may be" or "partly" when saying in me/myself.

[@deeb3272]

2018: No 2019: No 2020: nCov outbreak. Okay imma watch this now

[@SocietysGone]

Dee B 😂😂

[@oreed1979]

2018 Yes...Called the Flu 2019 Yes...Called the Flu

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Yeah. Lol.

[@danielmallon8416]

Haha me to

[@Pravduh]

2020 was supposed to be a hell of a year... The the f happen?

[@citiesskyscrapers4561]

This is one of the best channels on KZbin! Always happy when a new video from it appears in my recommendations😊

[@Luciud]

Cities & Skyscrapers heck yeah this channel is the bomb.

[@bluesap7318]

Watch scishow

[@ashmckinlay1402]

I know right! It's such an awesome channel!!

[@veneficus582]

Cities & Skyscrapers Kurzgesagt

[@RhinoXpress]

pbs enos is what DNews used to be before it turned into seeker....

[@ganaraminukshuk0]

"If viruses are on the tree of life, they're more like vines wrapping around it." Well, that's a really interesting way to put it.

[@tacos394]

ikr, very poetic

[@ΠανωραίαΓιαννούτσου]

Yeah... But when the vines squeeze the life out of everything else, it is no longer interesting; it becomes a cause for worry.

[@marujitadiaz9019]

Many other organisms pick up genetic material from other distant organisms, not just viruses. For instance, endosymbiotic relations usually lead gene transfer. Coincidentally, quite often viruses act as gene transfer vectors between distant organisms that haven't even established a symbiotic relationship. On the their hand, bacteria are specialists at picking up genetic material from their environment or directly transferring pieces of their genetic material to other bacteria, often of very different species.

[@Tsotha]

that was a lot of information about viruses I have either forgotten since school or never heard until now, many thanks for this video PBS Eons!

[@zorochii]

8% virus. Just like my HDDs and SSDs. Now I feel closer to my PC. :')

[@goyonman9655]

Lol

[@elizabethhutt7743]

😂😂😂

[@temporaryrelief2981]

hahaha

[@RogueBoyScout]

🤣🍻

[@olenagirich1884]

Best comment on KZbin period.

[@shadowthehedgehog3113]

"Where Did Viruses Come From?" Hell?

[@samschreiber1640]

stfu

[@al-imranadore1182]

that is actualy true!! carbon-hydrogen based complex moleclues like RNA and DNA was produced during the end of Hedean eon (When the earth was a ball of soidified but still hot lava with a shallow body of water covering most of it and small specs of rocky land made of cooled lava)

[@luckydepressedguy8981]

@@al-imranadore1182 that's sad ngl

[@SolidSiren]

@@al-imranadore1182 YES!

[@SolidSiren]

@@luckydepressedguy8981 What's sad?

[@Artie-gc5oj]

Very good explanation..I am 65 from Thailand, if i listen to you 50 years ago i would be expertise in this field. Thank you.

[@thecreature7608]

I have actually really been wondering about this, so thank you for covering it. While we are on the subject, how did parasites evolve. Perhaps you could take a look at how some modern ones like lampreys, paracitic ants. and ticks came to be. I would also be really interested in learning about some more of the stuff from the cambrian, like ophabia and anomalicaris. Bizzare lifeforms really facinate me. If you could please even just let me know that this is condidered, I would be very thankful, so thanks in advance.

[@arturo7926]

You are right, that is truly fascinating!

[@Dragrath1]

Parasitism is a extremely broad topic that would probably need a series rather than a single video to address as parasitism seems to be extremely ancient quite possibly as old as life itself

[@スノーハッピー]

What Dragrath1 said. Parasitism is too broad a topic. PBS Eons tends to cover specific events or specific groups of organisms (in an evolutionary sense, i.e. clades). Then again, the last video was about adaptive radiation, but using the Triassic as an anchor point/example. So parasitism could be covered... but maybe over several videos sprinkled here and there.

[@bradhurst6834]

Will Pack If you really think about it anything can be a parasite

[@chizpa305]

The Creature: parasitism is a strategy of survival, not a species. It appears in many different parts of the tree of life because it is a sound strategy used by many organisms. I believe there are more parasitic organisms than not parasitic...

[@alexliger1893]

One thing PBS Eons usually does great: the background music. Kudos to whomever picks the tracks.

[@HealthyPlanet]

Yes, and the speaker in this video at least, speaks clearly. And the visuals are clear and are aligned well with the lecture.

[@alexliger1893]

@@HealthyPlanet Indeed.

[@mastod0n1]

And kudos to the mixer that EQ'd and set the sound balance. Very very clean mix and balance.

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

When I took a course in bio psychology (“Genes & Behavior”) in the 1990s, the instructor told us that viruses were _renegade mitochondrial DNA or RNA._

[@culwin]

All my viruses are retro. Only 90's kids will remember!

[@nothayley]

ILOVEYOU

[@Dr10na1995]

So true :D

[@vishalSharma-wh3hr]

?

[@corvus1970]

I literally LOL'd. :D

[@Kat-PM]

culwin Awww I like your icon. My dad has a bunch of old Calvin and Hobbes books (compilations of the comics) so I read them when I was younger.

[@hahalord7294]

I'm currently studying viruses in my school, and youtube decided to recommend me this vid. How?

[@moroccanfreethinker2739]

KZbin Algorithm worked at least for once

[@YingofDarkness]

KZbin is owned by Google. You Googled somethings about viruses and it was included as part of the KZbin algorithm. Then the KZbin algorithm decided it would work for once and ta-da

[@elqueso5312]

Big brother is watching

[@ramyswar296]

Illuminaty

[@morimoto5768]

They heard u men. Be careful. If mybe some loli come up in your recommend. I'd say maybe based on u search

[@gloriousforever3451]

Sleep: KZbin: Hey, it's 5 am on a school night, wanna learn about how viruses evolved?

[@SinPandoaa]

Yes, me too

[@clydecraft5642]

Bruh its 2020 who still goes to school

[@acyllia5311]

@@clydecraft5642 online school. There are schedules in some or most schools

[@migratingeagle5497]

Little did we know

[@arandomtechpriest5492]

No one: Absolutely no one: My parents waking me up a 630am to go to 'school' at 9

[@levijordan907]

One of the most interesting videos I’ve seen in a while. Thank you. I didn’t even know paleovirology was a field

[@a.e.jabbour5003]

I'm so glad I'm not alone! :)

[@FadazMada]

Most underrated prehistoric channel

[@nosuchthing8]

Great host for this viral topic

[@michaelpondo6324]

I have. Epstein bar virus infection when i was you. I also had influenza at the same time i had mono. Epstein bar. This gave me chronic fatigue syndrome and fibro. The consequenseses have been awful a life long search to control symtoms.

[@fakgooby2313]

"this virus may be 500 years old.." "Oh wait, it's actually probably more along the lines of 68 million..." I love science

[@HY31494]

When you see data going back and forth, they're at the frontier of Science, when you see established scientific theory that has no new evidence to alter them, they are called scientific fact. Example like evolution theory, that's actually better than fact because it's always being challenged but always proved it's true. There are difference in the science field.

[@ոakedsquirtle]

@Ken Hasibar You like me ;)

[@Chesteritea]

Yeah not that great of a difference

[@jmitterii2]

That's because before genomics evidence available was only dating to 500 years old... with genomics evidence demonstrates the origin timeline to be much older. So yes, appreciation should be given to evidence based knowledge aka science.

[@genmockify]

The area where most of the animals in the single meat market was found in an area that was untouched by man. (Darwinism)

[@laskatz3626]

More on viruses please. It’s fascinating. Thank you!

[@Belisarius536]

"Virus are so much simpler than cellular life, they must have evolved first". I dont know about that one; because a virus' simplicity is what makes them effective and if they are evolved specifically to attach or infect specific species then surely the host species would have to have originated first? Otherwise viruses would be "floating around" without a purpose in the world literally not doing anything like an anomoly which doesn't fit in anywhere

[@CorwynGC]

Nothing natural has a 'purpose'.

[@logosao88]

@@CorwynGC Ok, can anything have a purpose?

[@CorwynGC]

@@logosao88 Sure, constructed things often have a purpose.

[@logosao88]

@@CorwynGC Constructed? As in man-made? What about the reproductive system? Mitochondria? One might say they have functions, but how is that any different -practically speaking - than saying they have a purpose? Unless, of course, one is trying to interject a metaphysical opinion into the mix.

[@CorwynGC]

@@logosao88 The difference between 'Function' and 'Purpose' is the presence of a goal seeking agent. 'Purpose' is a thing which resides in the brain of a maker, not in an object. Not all man-made, a beaver dam has a purpose.

[@roehanostornsyn3367]

PBS being relevant again man, maddddd respect

[@jaybx9831]

It’s so crazy what you could learn from the internet for free literally learning more than school and I’m chilling in my bed smoking a blunt😂

[@Joe-ij6of]

Me in 2018: Hey look, interesting knowledge Me in 2020: he's in on it

[@evandean3944]

The question of whether viruses are alive strikes me as analogous to asking if the seeds of plants are alive. Yes, they are alive, but when they are in between hosts they are in a dormant state.

[@aaryajain6396]

Nope.seeds have live cells all the time. Viruses are in the gray area

[@evandean3944]

@@aaryajain6396 I understand that, but I don't believe it disqualifies the analogy. Since viruses don't have cells at all, the question is do they have viable proteins, which they do.

[@aaryajain6396]

@@evandean3944 yes it does. Seeds have living cells which perform respiration. Viruses are just RNA.

[@ian7208]

Could you please make an episode about evolution through horizontal gene transfer?! We enjoy watching your videos so much!

[@stutzstudiowerks]

That was very interesting. Thank you. I am waiting for someone to come out with a video about the history and evolution of bedbugs. They have been around since the dinosaurs, but why? They don't live on their host. They nest nearby and sneak a ride to another locale to build another nest near another host. Weird. Their reproduction is just awful, too. Why, why, why? Thanks.

[@SMP2059]

Maybe they need to move around because there’s never enough room for them. I guess that’s why people do it.

[@Fido-vm9zi]

Because there are so many & they are hard to kill?

[@mosaid2361]

Who’s watching this after the Coronavirus outbreak ? I hope you all stay safe and blessed in these hard times

[@simplysohani]

There is a new 2020 one that is still going

[@V1_Ultrakrill]

Nah I'm still in this pandemic and coughing and pressing F in the chat

[@mosaid2361]

Jin p imagine being toxic over the word blessed your life must really suck I hope ur life gets blessed

[@teethslidr]

Wait, you’re from the future?! How’s the super deadly virus goin for ya?

[@Fireholder1]

What do you mean 'after'?

[@SRBrown9032]

I like the "escape" hypothesis myself, with the twist that it wasn't so much "escape" as "cast off" when a cell division failed to complete and the DNA broke up and some piece found shelter in a protein. To me this helps explain how, over long periods, viruses are so species specific, they're most likely to be able to invade a cell in their origin species.

[@evanrigel954]

i didnt even realise until i was i the middle of the exam, but this channel helped me to revise for my biology A level

[@ShockballGaming]

Nice

[@mikemondano3624]

You must be studying the most basic stuff imaginable. Hopefully, you won't ever need to know anything about biology in the future.

[@jasp9661]

Mike Mondano maybe it's first year biology?

[@ShockballGaming]

@@mikemondano3624 a level bio is at all basic go look at the exams they do search a level bio aqa exam you will so also I think. He meant subtle info or some key words

[@ShockballGaming]

@@jasp9661 please just go look at a a level UK national exam is so hard and 16 year olds do it

[@LevelUpWellness]

I guess this is what you call a “viral” video

[@jenniferjuniper97]

lol

[@marty3183]

no

[@controlequebrado4455]

You...didn't watch untill the end before commenting this I assume

[@HopeRock425]

Now leave

[@sgtmayhem7567]

Har dee har har

[@zakmartin]

SPOILER ALERT: He has no idea where viruses came from.

[@zoedaemon4940]

Plot twist : virus helping evolve modern human 🤒

[@anthonyc4138]

@T.A. Garcia yep

[@anthonyc4138]

@ they did

[@euronico7949]

Damn i learned here in this comment and replies more than i do in my 12 years of school studying

[@Cindrylle_me14]

and modern human helps spread virus that all , how coincidens

[@dhuh943]

@T.A. Garcia virus vs virus?

[@elenafoleyfoley168]

Loved learning about viruses and bacteria in college, pathogenic and non pathogenic. Really interesting and extremely worrying just how much damage they can do, including death 😳 Great video thankyou 🙏🏻

[@1Waarheid]

Well, forget everything you learned. Antoine Béchamp was right.

[@csagan-bh2qy]

We need more videos about viruses

[@duhduhvesta]

+

[@nosuchthing8]

c.sagan this topic could be contagious

[@csagan-bh2qy]

nosuchthing8 ,aha . Good one

[@AxisofFilm]

In my opinion, the grey area is: it does not live or think but it has simple code which is life goals but it does not know who it is infecting. Those life goals are Find a host,reproduce, and among other things

[@Mike-kl3mo]

"probably me too" I'm starting to think this guy is a cyborg

[@daniellemorrison7154]

More then likely

[@samiamrg7]

I think at the very least, viruses evolved almost simultaneously with cellular life, since they are so simple that something superficially resembling a virus probably existed before cellular life, and once cellular life came into existence, a new niche for parasites also came into existence.

[@kelliepatrick519]

Kind of like an Arms Race. Simple exposed RNA/DNA beginnings, then some evolved a protective shell (cell walls), then exposed rna/dna evolved to penetrate the cell wall.

[@makeupbyushna3085]

The clock ticking sounds cool but it makes me anxious. It's weird but the clock ticking scares me.

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

douche

[@chou2012]

@@amazingpowers6056 Actually it's a technique to build suspense. Hans zimmer, the composer who wrote the score for inception and interstellar, is well known to use it. ex: in interstellar when they land on the water planet, he set's the beat to a clock tic, and rhythm; and yes i know that music has inherent rhythm, but what made this scene peculiar is that it is almost like a "clock-song". all in all it is to increase our suspenseful senses, and draw our attention to the seriousness, importance, and/or specificity of the situation! so please dont mock or insult without knowing first! thank you! here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZCkqpKfebd0mMU ps: the same track is used when cooper tries to reach the docking station that's about to crash on the ice planet!

[@JonathanPerez-sj7qb]

who's here after the 2020 coronavirus outbreak?

[@CosmicHarmony58]

🙋🏽‍♂️

[@Blackstaralpha]

who's here preparing for the end of the world?

[@icaffee3013]

Hey that's me

[@sbevebren1642]

@@rattz__ no need to worry its not that infective and if you have a strong immune system you probably wont be affected

[@lyndafayesmusic]

So, where did I put that old microscope I had in high school ?

[@epicmetod]

Escapement theory is when cells too bored from making duplicate then decide to make tiny robot toy from its dna.

[@rotechs]

I think the problem with the virus first model is what hosts did the viruses use to reproduce if the viruses came first before the host cells? Maybe they came about at the same time and viruses are the parasitic left over material of the evolution of single cells?

[@matthewjohnvu8104]

I watched this video a long time ago. I came back to it because I finally understood that virus might possibly be the reason life itself started. These structures simpler than living cells came into contact with other structures that had the other materials needed to reproduce. I see from this video, the argument is still up in the air.

[@HumanBeingSpawn]

So we could just be a virus ourselves?

[@St33ldancer]

You are wonderful. I have been doing a bunch of research into viruses recently, and your timing is perfect. I love you guys.

[@burnerjack01]

Great video. I hope you do a video on Prions. While there are many out there, I enjoy the way you present information. Seems easier for me to absorb it.

[@rozinan7400]

Ugh do I even want to know what these creepy existences come from?? They can’t be see to the eye, yet has the potential of causing so much harm

[@amyreynolds7244]

"When I say it out loud, it's such a scumbag move!"

[@tsuchan]

Nice work Blake! First time to watch this channel... I knew you were the Chief Editor on Sci-Show, but I've never seen you host... really clear - thanks!

[@purple0hairstreak]

Eons: “The earth never shook beneath their feet” Me: *cries in 2020*

[@andycopeland7051]

That's the damn government making you cry. Not a virus with a 99.7% survivability rate.

[@seanmorgan2356]

@@andycopeland7051 Guess it just sucks to be one of the 0.3% who died then, right?! Or what about the ones who survived but only due to modern medical interventions? Or the ones that lived, but now have to deal with long term, if not life long, problems like damaged lungs and heart? Or the ones with no symptoms at all but have to live with the knowledge that they passed the virus onto someone who ended up in one of the 3 other groups? Oh well, must be nice not to be burdened with empathy....

[@somersault1123]

@@seanmorgan2356 That's not empathy. It's sympathy. You feel sorrow for sorrowful events; sympathy. With empathy, you'd feel the sorrow. But you'd also feel the practical perspective as well. Technically, I'm assuming that you cannot empath with a practical perspective. But you're also assuming that he cannot empath with the affected minority.

[@papwithanhatchet902]

I misread the headline. I thought it said “Where Dad Viruses Come From” and immediately thought to myself “well, their kids, clearly”.

[@pottupatteri2903]

Why did KZbin recommend this to me now when the Coronavirus is spreading

[@sally3024-h4c]

Makes a person think ...hmmmm

[@Omar-ey8gy]

KZbin algorithm mate.

[@marklim6452]

KZbin is a virus.

[@lyndafayesmusic]

And, ...Where did we put that old microscope we had in high school ?

[@kimjong-un4411]

Because KZbin/Google listens for keywords throughout your day-to-day conversations and suggests videos based on what you’ve said.

[@joschafinger126]

About the various pathways of virus evolution: I think perhaps all of them are correct, and it's rather a question of, "where does THIS virus come from? Like, viruses have evolved many times over, from different bases. If "virus" is not a phylum but a niche, just like "flying animal", or "plant-eating organism", that would make a lot of sense, I think.

[@cryoraptora303tm2]

Possibly. I don't know if it's been determined how related some groups of viruses are to each other. If we can't see any clear relation between different virus groups then they might not be related at all.

[@joschafinger126]

@@cryoraptora303tm2 Exactly.

[@lyndafayesmusic]

Ah, while the children play with rats in India I' m wondering about all the videos of snakes, rats and cats in China now ? Lots of parasites in those! And, ...Where did we put that old microscope we had in high school ?

[@KiraNightshade]

I think of viruses as being a lot like parasites but on a much smaller scale. It just works for whatever reason.

[@shravanbhat7389]

That's a fascinating perspective Ura genius man What is ur educational qualification?😀

[@yashdubey7180]

Human: making fun and mocking viruses Virus : well, remeber you started it first, happy new year 2020

[@salihzjajic3239]

Lol

[@dorpaul]

#nerves of steel You misspelled “Remember”

[@karmotlephrog3791]

KARMA

[@drewphilip]

Dear PBS Eon: Which came first, the poppy which contains morphine, or the animal by which morphine can be metabolized by. Please make a video on this question, thanks.

[@Mark1Mach2]

This was an amazingly clear and easy to understand video. Better then the most videos explaining viruses and how they work and originate. Good job PBS and this guy.

[@Sinn1k]

Looking forward to one day watching this video again and getting quarantine flashbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic.

[@karlaconroy2099]

I'm watching in 2024,thinking about the Covid Pandemic.

[@oqsy]

I love Blake videos! I’d love to learn more about Archaea. (I hope there isn’t already an Eons episode about them that I’ve missed). Perhaps an episode on the history of Archaea and why that relatively new big branch at the top of the tree is important... Thanks PBS Digital, Eons and Space Time are fantastic series!

[@LastMomentMan]

My question is: Who wrote the genetic code for the first cell ?.

[@sarahliebman4319]

We want videos about why some animals survived the K-T extinction event. We are especially interested in crocodiles, but I'd love to learn more about why some birds survived.

[@jotm2229]

Pathogens in general: *Enters body* Immune System: *Tough guy finger snapping*

[@jotm2229]

Eliza Sayers Yup.

[@siyacer]

Thanos?

[@accursedcursive4935]

One model of virus origin you didn't mention was the idea of weaponised genetic information. Bacteria can pass genetic information between each other, because bacteria may benefit from the survival of other bacteria and thus cooperation is beneficial. When bacteria compete, obviously passing around harmful genetic information is effective for harming countless fellow bacteria; essentially, a non-replicating virus.. If that harmful genetic information so happened to have instructions for itself to be replicated, then the virus would be free to prey on bacteria without any bacterium actively weaponising it.

[@ernestareheart4238]

You mean like.....a bacteriophage?

[@donaldnye2890]

the earth wants to know where the bipedal viruses came from

[@kerrym7089]

One of the best videos I saw from this page, and I've seen a LOT.

[@rikkapikasnikka]

Loved this video! Viruses certainly occupy a gray area when it comes to the tree of life. Could Eons do a video on the evolution of sleep? I'd love to see that!!

[@vladimirlagos2688]

There is not one of these I haven't yet liked. Keep up the great work!!

[@DanaMariedotorg]

I want to learn about the archaea branch of life

[@ana-zb7ix]

"Viruses were once free living, then developed a symbiotic relationship with another organism... Then that relationship became parasitic. Which sometimes happens." Me: Ha! Indeed it happens, my friend. Indeed it happens.

[@cephalonplant4087]

Virus to humans *I like you as a Friend *I like you as a lover *I love you so much I wanna always be with you *I love you so much I want to kill you and anyone else you like more then me!

[@racookster]

That sounds like 96% of the women I ever became involved with. And if you think that says something about me, I won't argue.

[@suly3243]

For the hypothesis that viruses came first before single celled life evolved, then how would they replicate with no host cell to infect?

[@TrangNguyen-tn9pb]

Maybe it started with an ability to self-replicate but then during the evolution it found the strategy to become parasitic better so it developed that way

[@suly3243]

@@TrangNguyen-tn9pb if it self replicated then it wouldn’t be considered a virus, and that would mean viruses didn’t come first

[@larryc1616]

you're asking which came first, "the chicken or the egg"

[@garyhov6259]

This video should be viral

[@Eli-akad]

I always use to think about the fact that viruses are considered non living things, and it perplexed me. How can something that has intent as well as the ability to “reproduce” not be considered living? Whether it’s sentient is a whole other argument, but the way viruses behave leds one to believe that these things are living organisms. This always perplexed me when I was younger

[@bobbyt9431]

They certainly carry out the act of injecting their genetic material. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2064038/

[@tsm688]

Taken to its logical extreme, some plant viruses are utterly naked. No capsule, no nothing -- just little loops of RNA. Alive? Really?

[@Suraj4m1n]

"...and over time their relationship became more parasitic, which sometimes happens" Yup, sometimes they do. 🙄

[@benderisgreat95able]

Someone answer for me: if viruses cause random mutations, then is it possible that a virus can thrive by causing a positive mutation that eventually overwhelms a genepool and fuels evolution by being an additional source of genetic mutation?

[@jacobferrari-shaikh5436]

I was thinking this!

[@tedlahm5740]

Evolution driven by viruses?

[@MrXalirus]

Patch code

[@ImplodedAtom]

This dude's awesome. Loving the dry humour 😂

[@dontcallmestupid7698]

This Channel is amazing and really informative without trying to be over the top in their explanations for the sake of spectacle, I've been looking for something like this for months :)

[@ifoundbeans6970]

I like how everyone makes memes about something that can wipe out the entire human race

[@cptharky552]

Ye ik this is just an opportunity for wannabe internet clowns

[@najib9093]

The coronavirus is bad but it’s scientifically impossible for it to wipe out our race, approximately 99% of people survive it (death rates are inflated because not everyone that’s infected is tested and many are asymptomatic so confirmed cases figures aren’t accurate). And once they’ve recovered they become immune or at least resistant to it. So even if everyone in the world catches the virus, there will still be at least 7.5 billion people left who have developed immunity. And even if it killed everyone that caught it and everyone caught it there’d still be isolated tribes who were never exposed to it who survived.

[@VirtuelleWeltenMitKhan]

It can not wipe out the entire human race. Viruses play the numbers game but so do humans too. Some (ore even most) will survive an infection and get immune. It is almost impossible that one single virus can kill all humans (ore to a point where it stops the human race). Greetings

[@playgrounddolls7766]

Well iff You have to leave then leave with orchestra:-))

[@arthurdent6828]

Your Mom's a meme.

[@Adiounys]

I would like to hear more details. On the other hand, yes, that was 8min video...

[@CLAX1337]

I’m a genomics researcher and I think this is a pretty comprehensive and succinct explanation. Well done.

[@vijaysundar1348]

From 4:42 possible ways of origin of viruses explanation begins

[@adamseroka5609]

I Love you channel Eons! Youre always providing some unique niche video that explains the evolution if all life from many under-covered time periods. I would love to hear your commentary on plants. Starting somewhere from the bacteria, into the diversification of angiosperms that we have today. Much love

[@samuelwiley8736]

I’ve been watching vsauce to much u was expecting “or are they “🤣🤣🤣