What If All Viruses Vanished?
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2024
- In the past couple years, you may have found yourself wishing that all the viruses in the world just disappear. But be careful what you wish for...
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My mind immediately thought of bacteriophages and how we'd all probably die from bacterial infections without viruses to hunt them down
Would your less burdened immune system not just perform better with less viral work on its plate?
@@C05597641 yeah but bacterias would be way more abundant
@@lpawowp it would depend. What is the viral burden on the bacteria on your skin and mucous membranes? Without viruses those bacteria would be that much more potent. Our immune systems are adaptable so we can adapt to more potent bacteria by just devoting more of the bodies energy to the parts of the immune system that combats bacterial infections. What is the viral burden on the human body and the immune system? We are all riddled with viruses. Each and every one of us. It woild likely take generations of natural selection to become as seemingly stable as it is now.
@@C05597641 the bacteriophages outnumber the amount of viruses that negatively infect you, it wouldn't be an equal trade off
@@Dee-jp7ek Impossible to know. We can only guess at this.
well, for one thing, there certainly wouldn't be any viruses
I'm ashamed how hard I laughed reading this
Nicht Scheiße, Captain Obvious
This is probable.
r/technicallythetruth
@@botigamer9011 er ist ein Genie unter Narren
I'm very surprised you didn't cover the fact that once upon a time a retrovirus infection was responsible for introducing the genes to produce syncytin, which is vital for the placenta and we would not be able to exist as we are without it.
He did mention endogenous retroviruses in general and how we wouldn't exist without them, without using the term "endogenous retrovirus", though.
Didn’t a virus create mitochondria
I was thinking the same thing I learned that from pbs eons
Yeah, this needs to be taught at schools. Schools tend to focus on pathogenic viruses and omit other details.
Because school is dumb, it teaches you useless nonsense and excludes other useless nonsense
Not true, Kevin07. If you studied biology and microbiology in college, you would learn all about these little critters: both the good and the bad. I was a microbiology tech for years when I worked. Besides learning a ton of Latin names of many species, you know everything that’s known about them, including the fact that every few years, their names change. Example: Pasteurella pestis to Yersinia pestis. This is the causative agent for bubonic plague.
@@suzannebrown2505 I study microbiology, but only ones related to food. I'm a food science major...
I mean unless you’re getting a really in depth education and want to work in the field knowing about the pathogenic ones is far more relevant.
In defense of schools. It gives a more general knowledge about things and doesn't dive much deep as there are many topics
"I wish for a Professor Farnsworth 'What if...? machine' to accurately find out what the consequences of wishes would actually be before I made them!!!"
In a meta way your wish came true, as the episode exists, and your wish was basically just seeing that machine in action.
Nice.
That is a mind bending paradox....
Too bad you don't have that machine before this wish was granted!!
Now I'm imagining a monkey's paw wearing a finglonger.
Not as dramatic as "take over" but it would definitely change ecosystems forever... and probably not for the good
I am no virologist, but I would consider that even pathogenic viruses have been useful in history to help keep animal and plant populations in check.
Absolutely
As any other pathogens lol
If we didn’t have viruses or diseases, what would we have to be in check for?
@@brendanfogel4573 over population
@@brendanfogel4573 climate, change
At my university there is a freshman lab that focuses on the discovery of new bacteriophage and has each student or group of students collect a dirt sample. The sample is then tested to try and find a new type of bacteriophage, and because of how common they are and how little we know about them it is very very likely that at least half of the class will discover a completely new virus
Wait really?! So have they discovered any new viruses by now?
@@adarshmohapatra5058 I would say yes, given the odds.
@@adarshmohapatra5058 yeah I discovered a new bacteriophage, bacteria virus, when I was a freshman. I named it Taranis, after my dnd character.
@@jamesj.williams7702 SJU?!
Cool. I hope I do that someday
I'm gonna be real- my favorite part of these videos is the list of sources and picture credits at the bottom of the description. I love this. I wish all channels would do this when they're referencing something or talking about something that could definitely benefit the viewers by sharing their sources.
Seconded!
Nahhhh, that would make it way too hard to spread radicalizing misinformation
Yeah, I agree
"I wish Humans won't be negatively effected by any kind of viruses."
Add bacteria to that and it'd be great
@Eastern fence Lizard enjoy the rest of your lonely life in that situation. you'll crave people after a few months.
what about if it was the most painful death imaginable would you be able to sleep after killing so many innocents in such a way?
@@Dark0neone
That seemed like a satirical comment making fun of people who unironically say they hate humans or that we're a plague or some other such nonsense.
@@GlacialScion well it didn't seem like that to me but I hope it was bc saying all humans should die is just avoiding the problem
_"I wish one would wipe out all mankind. Except me, of course."_
I hope you're a dedicated prepper who has serious farming and DIY skills, or you're gonna die a quick, awful death.
And are we to assume people just...disappear? Yeah, GFL with all the nuclear power plants that will boil off their cooling water, once the grid is down and the generators run out of fuel. Every nuclear power plant melting down simultaneously? Good times.
I have a gastro virus right now, literally feels like dying, but I know there is a war inside of me. I am so proud of my little soldiers that keep this virus at bay within 24h, but why don't they learn??? I get that gastro virus every year !!
Get your gut microbiome tested? A healthy one would decrease your chances of getting a stomach bug by a significant amount. Sometimes food sensitivities can also make you more likely to get a stomach bug, so that's another thing you might consider to get tested for and eliminate from your diet.
Because that gastro virus changes what it looks like all the time and your immune system has to relarn what it is.
Viruses also mutate, so your likely not getting the exact same virus every year. Every time you get the virus it will be different than the last time you got it and your immune system will be starting from scratch. Hence your getting sick every time
The worst is the dehydration you get from a bad one
I remember in a video on COVID there was mention of basically 'viral niches', where different viruses might specialize towards different tissues (like lungs vs throat for respiratory diseases), and with benign viruses in the body I wonder if any of them provide some buffer against new viruses by occupying a viral niche. May be more likely in the digestive system if the virome is essentially a pair to gut bacteria, but idk, it's an interesting thought
I like this idea. I think it leads into the idea as well that the virome can contribute to priming of immune systems almost like a natural vaccination. Like if you have a virus that mostly infects epithelial gut cells with a slow reproductive rate and doesn’t cause significant damage, that can leak into lymph or blood, but is harmless and killed, but closely related to a deadly blood borne pathogen sharing viral epitopes. It could then prime the immune systems response to an infection from a more pathogenic virus that could infect lungs etc.
Interesting
That's a really interesting idea! And very possibly true. I've been sick from something unknown for most of my life. I thought for sure that COVID would kill me if I got it. But it didn't. It didn't get all that bad for me. I wonder if my resident virus, or whatever it is, was already taking up that niche. Or what if my resident virus actually fought of the COVID 19 virus for me??? You know, didn't want to share it's space with another really bad virus.
How's that for a crazy idea!? Maybe my lifelong illness actually saved my life!
Like cow pox vs small pox!
That was what I was thinking as well, it does sound temptingly obvious since this tends to apply in almost all of biology but I think to be sure you'd have to actually prove that viruses can exclude each other, since like with how many cells we have it's not like there's ever a lack of cells for viruses to infect.
"As much havock they've wreaked throughout history, scientists are starting to understand..."
We need to do something about these scientists
Brilliant
It's always seemed to me like the most intuitive way to view a virus is to consider the infected cell to be the mature organism and the virion to be a spore or predatory gamete.
That's an interesting way of looking at it
“Predatory gamete” gave me chills.
@@jeorgiaroach165 This reply popped up while I was watching reaction vids to the original Alien movie, 10/10 timing.
@@wcookiv talk about a predatory gamete amirite??
What, why? A spore has nothing to do with viruses, and a "predatory gamete" implies the virus fuses with the cells to create a new organism.
Thanks for saying I'm amazing, Hank! I needed the boost ❤
This hypothetical wish reminds me of the worst parts of my parents... they get a bad idea in their head and they will keep at it for a long time not getting how it will impact other things... then get angry when they finally get what they wanted and its impacts are worse than anyone could of ever imagined.
Right, like "How bad do the consequences have to be for you to realize that this is a bad idea?" This is one of the great frustrations with people in my life, though thankfully, not my parents.
@@louisfalcone5494 I don't think that was what we were discussing. Go off and play, dear. The adult conversation is going over your head.
@@tessat338 Yeah... I get we all can be foolish and have our eccentricities.... I guess in a way its also a reminder to check myself and others. I wish I realized sooner this about my parents
@@Thunderwalker87 Hugs, Hon. (Here in Maryland, we call everyone, regardless of age, sex or station "Hon.")
@@louisfalcone5494 I mean why?
Animals being tested for diseases do that our species can live has no moral consequence really.
I mean every animal on earth would probably do the same. We are at the end of the day animals like any other.
Also animals benefit from testing as well. You have to test in order to get medication for animals.
Apparently you are just anti life though. Which is fine, but realize most people don’t value other species over their own species because of the way we evolved.
I'm in the 2%. Now just gotta figure out how to get to the 0.01%
I get the feeling someone found a Genie and was asking this question “for a friend”
I'm here from Hank's tiktok video because I want to be part of the 2%
Same 😂
me too!
One paper I found fascinating is "Viruses and cells intertwined since the dawn of evolution". In it they hypothesize that Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya are the results of a DNA virus infecting an RNA cell on 3 separate occasions. If that is the case, then viruses really have been central to the history of life on Earth.
@@louisfalcone5494 Nothing about this video is about animal testing. Get out of here with your eugenics garbage.
@@project.eutopia it's a bot. just report it.
Sounds fascinating.
The fact that viruses exist in such numbers and for so long, means that they are essential and have a reason to be here and apparently everywhere. Rarely have we found that something that is everywhere is not an integral part of nature. Understanding their significance, function and evolution is going to be important to everyone.
Don't eliminate all the viruses?
Sounds like someone infected with viruses would say
Sounds like someone with a weak immune system. Only the weak can't handle nature.
@@bobbuilder155 yes because let’s kill all immuno-compromised people, old people, and chemo patients. That’s a lot of people and a lot of family members
@@authenticNL2 no what?, what I meant was the guy who wants all viruses destroyed is clearly someone who has so little faith in his own immune system that he is willing to destroy a crucial part of nature due to his fear.
-we are all infected in some way-
It’s soo cool seeing how much we’ve learned about viruses even in just the past decade.
I remember reading something very like this problem of getting rid of all viruses in 1969's "The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton.
that was a good read and the classic movie too
‘Eliminate all human pathogens’ is still a really dangerous wish. Some microbes are harmful in one context and helpful in others. Eradicating absolutely everything that can be dangerous if it gets into a wound or lung or whatever could be crippling to the organ it usually resides in or on.
"They're present in our oceans in such astronomical numbers, it's estimated that they would stretch from here past the next 60 galaxies if laid end-to-end." Wow. To lay out something nanometres in length that stretches out a million lightyears away just boggles my brain.
How would we know they stretched that far, since they are microscopic? For that matter, how do we know there isn't already a "chain" of viruses that help new viruses invade?
@@steveipsen6293 👀
@@steveipsen6293 If you know the approximate amount of viruses in the ocean, and the approximate length of a virus then you can determine how far it would reach if laid down end-to-end. Works for any object, microscopic or not. In this case, according to "Marine viruses - major players in the global ecosystem" by Curtis A. Suttle, they estimated there are 10^30 viruses in the ocean. And viruses vary in length from 20 nm to 500 nm. If we take even the smallest virus at 20 nm and multiply that with 10^30, we get 2x10^31 nm which is equal to 2,114,002 light years.
@@steveipsen6293 Well, they are small but according to a quick google search there are approximately 1x10^31 viruses on earth, and they range from a few micrometers to a few hundred micrometers. At the most conservative estimate that would mean they would stretch 5,285,117.5 light years across if laid end to end. That's not taking into account anything larger than 5nm.
Properly structured wish: viruses will never cause any pathogenic state in eukaryotes worse than a mild cold.
But! If you include all eukaryotes in that, you could have the unintended consequence of certain animals reproducing uncontrollably without natural viral infections to control their population, and we know where that leads
@@aaronmarks9366 ok, chordates, or vertebrates.
@@Pengalen Even then: rodents, anyone? ;)
@@aaronmarks9366 rodents aren't primarily taken out by infectious diseases or viruses in particular. They're either eaten, or die of cancer mostly. Also, many rodents are cute, such as squirrels, beavers, porcupines, and capybaras.
I completely forgot about SciShow. I just haven't seen it in like 3 years. It didn't come up on my timeline. Forgot how awesome this channel is.
Watching the stupid, pseudo-hip, script-reading non-experts they have over at PBS Eons?
The UA-cam feed do be like that. You can click on the subscriptions tab to see all new videos from channels you're subscribed to.
@@The_InfantMalePollockFrancis care to explain whats with pbs eons? i watch it sometimes
Chick out Black American history with Clint Smith. It’s now one if my favorites along with astronomy and philosophy.
@@The_InfantMalePollockFrancis whoa what? Are we also mad at pbs space time? What’s happening?
Aw, Scishow. You've been filling me with wonder for almost 10 years now (yep, I'm an old viewer). Great topic, great episode. I learned a lot.
Watched a Hank TikTok where he calls people out for not watching this video and I took that personally
What did I learn today? "A Monkey's Paw situation."
From Wikipedia. I am suddenly quite happy that I donated 10 euros to Wikipedia's continued existence.
And yes, even at less than a minute in, much of the rest of the video should be familiar already, but I'm going to enjoy it anyway.
man i knew the meaning but never knew the story. that was some seriously screwed up stuff, felt like i just read a decent horror short story
Thank you for this SciShow episode, I needed it and didn’t know! It’s always fun for me to learn about viruses and I forgot I love it.
I'm so happy you mentioned viruses in the ocean! They are so important to ocean ecology and nutrient cycling!
Here from TikTok! Love you Hank!
Hank’s TikTok reminded me about this and I had to rewatch
Wow, this is amazing!!!
I learned so much new information!!
Thank you so much!!!
This is so cool, leaves me with so many questions, thank you for sparking curiosity
"There's a universe now."
"What's it made of?"
♫Quarks and stuff♫
~Bill Wurtz, 2017
How many of you are here because hank challenged us in his tiktok with the "only 2%" comment
this is one of the best videos Sci Show has made many thanks !
Always interesting, thank you.
I’m 2% out of the 20 people that came to those video, which FIRSTLY means that we’re smaller than 2% because there were more than 100 people watching your tik tok, and SECONDLY, I want to say that I’m out of a higher percent of one who watched all of both the tik tok and this video, AND I put in the time to write this comment, you may not see this, but I would just like to point out (not scientifically proven yet) taht I may be part of the smallest percent- so small that I think I deserve atleast a hi :)
"As a person who might get a wish" ... what are you not telling us, Hank?
Viruses are in our bodies and actually help us from becoming ill and they are about the same size as exosomes and those definitely help us Dr Sam Bailey MD and MD research youtube also
This was so good thank you
I'm less than a minute into the video, and already the premise has me thinking that SOMEBODY has been watching a lot of Kurzgesagt lately. XD
I was waiting throughout the video (and fascinated by the mentions of the virome, virions, and the effect on the carbon cycle) for the "all animals have viral DNA *in their own genomes*, and it's proved to be beneficial for us" bit to be mentioned!
Not to mention, the effects of viral plagues on human history - there's been a *big* role played by those.
One of the best episodes ever!
Wow that was well said Hank!
WOW! Thanks for this :)
i have a seperate hypothesis - viruses arose as defence method. for instance, bacteriophages being made by an organism that is preyed upon by certain bacteria. perhaps that organism that originally evolved to produce bacteriophages now died out or lost the ability to make bacteriophages
Came from Hank's instagram 😌 2% represent!!
It really was a great question. thoroughly enjoyed this!
Thank you Hank.
Came from Instagram to watch this after Hank's post. 😁
So. Message received, Worship Nurgle.
No matter what we do, there will be impact, usually in ways we had not foreseen. This is great Hank.
Just wanna let you know Hank, that I’m here after the shout-out to this vid in your tik tok 🐒💨
#justiceforSciShow
Clicking on this thinking "I know I want all viruses gone, but go ahead and change my mind"
Maybe just wish to get rid of the chance for viruses to become deadly wouldn’t get rid of what we’ve got but it’d be better for the future
Kudos to your writers. Well said .
Thanks for acknowledging them!
Awesome show
Welcome fellow 2%
Just a headscratcher:
I know viral DNA integrates itself into host DNA and can be actively repurposing the cell there or be dormant for generations.
Now here's my take: what if (some)viruses are originally made by the DNA as an early sort of cooperation (original parts of the cell's evolutionary track).
Viruses as a sort of automated turret a cell could make to keep itself safe in dangerous surroundings (If you require a metaphore an aircraftcarrier where the planes have to come back to the cell to recharge/multiply).
Then at one point some of those virusses got a mutation allowing them to overtake the whole celulair machinery, instead of an allocated amount of the mothercell, causing it to kill it`s host.
A very early attempt at numerical safety where cells didn`t have had anything like that before.
Just a thought
Those are called cytokines. Secreted by some immune cells, B cells secrete immunoglobulins. Most likely a prion, self replicating protein. Evolved into a virus then a bacteria
Sounds like the complement system.
Love this!!
One can basically this about every organism on Earth. Everything is important within its ecosystem and we shouldn't be messing around with it.
Like say, trying to eradicate mosquitoes in an effort to kill off the diseases they carry.
Viruses: *Are deleted and forbidden to spawn*
Half of all "Free Downloads": Adios
I came here from TikTok to be one of the 2% Hank called amazing. 🙂
It's nice to live in the day and age where you can ask random questions and somebody made a video about it
Nice one!
I've had this idea about viruses for a while now, viruses being some sort of DNA making machine that caused evolution etc., I'm glad to have found this video.
The "error"/ virus in the order causes creation. The sacred duality of nature and in the cosmos
Well it played a significant role in evolution but it's a huge stretch to suggest it caused it with substantial evidence.
I remember hearing (might have been from this channel) that bacteria can't be both virus resistant and antibiotic resistant, so not having viruses would possibly lead to harder to kill bacteria
There was this question in the book what if where if you gathered all the viruses in the world in one pile, it would be 225 million cubic meters, the size of a small mountain.
This was great! Hank should get on TikTok too.
Hank, I’m here from TikTok! 2%!
Every natural part of our ecosystem has a role, sometimes we just happen to be a factor in that role. Scientists do their best to negate the damage done by these events but it is ultimately up to us how much we will be involved. With Covid, people decided to ignore all of the advice given. That is why we are all still in this situation.
Notes: Two hypotheses on how viruses came to be-
1 - Progressive Hypothesis - Pieces of DNA and RNA learned to jump between cells.
2 - Regressive Hypothesis - Viruses are remains of cells that somewhere in the past lost their cellular casing and thus had to parasitize other cells in order to survive & proliferate.
3 - In a third scenario, viruses arose through multiple scenarios.
As someone that views viruses as creepy, this was a unsettling and interesting video.
The part where 8% of our genome is virus DNA, is unsettling!
Any Dungeons and Dragons player or dungeon master would tell you to be careful what you wish for.
When you make a wish, make sure your wording is carefully crafted to avoid getting screwed over.
An example of such: "I wish that all harmful viruses which infect humans would stop infecting humans."
Alternatively, if you're slightly more selfish: "I wish for the ability to cure disease as an at-will touch power."
The Lathe of Heaven
Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin
No matter what you may wish for, everything has unintended or unexpected consequences. It's foolish to mess with God's plan.
@@iramsavir5631 As far as D&D is concerned, that's part of the fun.
@@AvangionQ Yeah, messing with God is fun.
I'm part of the 2%
This channel has teavhed me more than school
I’VE BEEN WONDERING THIS.
Anybody here as the 2% from Hank's TikTok?
hiiiiii
why can't ants get covid?
Because they have tiny anty bodies.
Old
@@yorusuyasoul69420 Nah, they're actually pretty young. Ants don't live very long.
What an amazing video
Viruses are another forms, and probably a lot more ancient. Always a treat to see Hank.
here because hank’s tiktok
I'm here to be the cool 2% mentioned in Hanks TikTok about this topic.
Part of the 2% check
One of many parts in the cycle of matter. All are needed.
Isn't not getting sick by any other diseases a side effect of being a werewolf?
Here to be part of Hank's 2%
I like how this video is a PSA for wish grantees
Ayy I was apart of those virome studies back in 2012 after a lung transplant! Cool stuff
I wish all Viruses on this planet would disappear..
Genie: Your wish has been granted.
*ALL HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH DISAPPEARS*
Earth: Ahh much better now
I like this idea of a show. Science: What If......
Here from TikTok?! Had to watch the full video!
I'm sure someone else has said it, but this video needs to be more viral.
Team 2% 🤙🏽
Is there an argument anywhere in the scientific community about whether sperm cells should be considered virions?
more than just all the points mentioned, there is also research going into using viruses as a vector for transferring pharmacological medications into a difficult host body!
That title genuinely freaked me out to think of. Surely this won’t be good. How much of me disappears?!?