Viruses are actually neither alive nor dead, but something on the border between these two realms. They are only alive when they infect a cell and take over its machinery, otherwise they are just matter, intricately built and pretty to look at, but not alive. Above all, the viruses that have managed to transfer their genetic material to the human genome appear to be dead. In fact, human cells harbor considerable amounts of viral genes in their chromosomes, as has been known since the human genome was revealed. A French molecular biologist took a closer look at the many genes of viruses in the human genome and then set about constructing an entire virus genome from the genetic pieces - first in the computer, then in a synthesis apparatus that produced the virus's genetic molecule. The scary thing happened when this genetic material was introduced into a cell and then began to multiply. In other words, the virus was resurrected from its dead pieces, and this is actually something to rejoice about at Easter - or, on the contrary, does it make some people feel rather queasy? The resurrection of the dead virus shows above all the potential for life that lies deep within human cells and how closely the existence of the Homo sapiens species is linked to viruses. It was always thought that humans dominated nature. Now we realize that the opposite is the case and that nature actually controls humans.
