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mcculley ◴[] No.45030508[source]
I always wonder this and maybe people in the comments here know the answer: If humans had the technology to eliminate all viruses on Earth, what would be the outcome? Do viruses keep other bad things in check? Would there be bad consequences if we eliminated all viruses?
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fritzo ◴[] No.45030621[source]
The world of viruses is wide and beyond our current understanding. 50 years ago one might have dreamily wondered whether "eliminating all bacteria" would improve the world. Now we know we'd all die quickly without bacteria (e.g. gut biome). I think we're about at that level of understanding today regarding viruses.
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1. wildylion ◴[] No.45037075[source]
There's a hypothesis that a viral gene made mammalian placenta possible: [pubmed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10693809/).

And there's not even the only one (there are other syncitins).

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional