The English word "virus" comes from the Latin vīrus, which refers to poison and other noxious liquids. Vīrus comes from the same Indo-European root as Sanskrit viṣa, Avestan vīša, and Ancient Greek ἰός (iós), which all mean … See more

Classification seeks to describe the diversity of viruses by naming and grouping them on the basis of similarities. In 1962, See more

Viruses infect all cellular life and, although viruses occur universally, each cellular species has its own specific range that often infects only that species. Some viruses, called satellites, can replicate only within cells that have already been infected by another … See more

Viruses are found wherever there is life and have probably existed since living cells first evolved. The origin of viruses is unclear because … See more

Life properties
Scientific opinions differ on whether viruses are a form of life or organic structures that … See more

Examples of common human diseases caused by viruses include the common cold, influenza, chickenpox, and cold sores. Many serious … See more

Viruses are the most abundant biological entity in aquatic environments. There are about ten million of them in a teaspoon of seawater. Most of … See more