this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024
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Science Memes

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518
Smug Viruses (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

True! Here’s a little additional information since the north is in virus season.

A virus is a protein wrapped in a protective fatty lipid. Heat will melt the fat, then break down the protein. That’s why viruses last longer on surfaces and clothing in the cold season, increasing probability of transmission. A virus can remain intact on a shopping cart handle for up to 24 hours in the winter, for example.

You can also rapidly break down the fatty lipid using isopropyl alcohol, or break down the protein directly using hydrogen peroxide. Be careful using the latter. It can bleach or discolor dyed textiles.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Bats use heat to fly off their viruses, they get pretty bad ones, but when they're flying Bats get really hot. So it burns them off.

Also, some viruses have evolved into us and ended up serving functions in the human bawdy.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 days ago

Yup. Up to 8% of the human genome is comprised of ancient viruses.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/17366

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

Another example; mammals probably developed pregnancy using an Autoimmune virus' genes in the placenta to prevent the fetus from being destroyed by the immune system.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago

As an example we have reverse transcriptase that is derived from viruses.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

There was a Kurzegadt video about the virome recently

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

However, I can't find it now and nor can I spell their name, so apologies on both counts

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I believe you're referring to https://youtube.com/@kurzgesagt

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

I think they're on https://nebula.tv too, if you prefer that to YouTube.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 days ago

That’s why I always carry a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol as my hand sanitizer. It’s also great that my local grocery store has sanitary wipes right beside the carts so you can wipe down the handle before using it.