Psychology Today | 25.08.2026 02:12
What is a virus? It is a small segment of genetic material, DNA or RNA, enclosed in a protein envelope. It is neither dead nor alive. It simply exists. Viruses are everywhere. For example, a tablespoon of fresh water contains up to 500 million viruses. The human body contains 100 trillion to one quadrillion of them, far surpassing the number of cells in your body (30 trillion). The vast majority interact with bacteria. They have no internal metabolism; they cannot attack; they just are. (1,2)
