A Planet of Viruses

Interesting Facts

• The book explains how viruses play a key role in Earth's ecosystems, influencing evolution and maintaining balance in nature.
• The author discusses viruses that can be beneficial to humans, such as viruses that attack bacteria and can be used to combat bacterial infections.
• The book describes how viruses can alter the behavior of their hosts, for example, the rabies virus, which causes infected animals to become aggressive and bite others.
• Zimmer explains that viruses are the most numerous biological entities on the planet, outnumbering all other forms of life combined.
• The book explores the origins of viruses and their possible role in the emergence of life on Earth, considering hypotheses that viruses might have been among the first forms of life.