ssRNA:virus evolution

Over millions of years, viruses have evolved the genetic diversity to infect the cells of every type of living organism. The viruses that we isolate and study in our modern laboratories are the direct descendants of these more ancient genetic lineages. During the past few thousand years, human population densities have increased significantly. Consequently, our capacity to alter the environment has had a major impact on the evolution, emergence and dispersal of viruses. While we are now beginning to understand many of the properties of viruses, we are also inadvertently creating new possibilities for virus emergence, and thus disease. Clearly new challenges lie ahead if we hope to match the continuing ingenuity of viruses.
Written and directed by Irene Petropoulou
Co-directed and edited by Andrew Tucker
Main scientific advisors: Dr. Christopher Clegg, Dr. Ernest Gould.
Chief Animator: John Bardakos
Narrated by Marianne Graffam

[@clipark]

Thank you, very useful