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Yes, in a way.

Some viruses can induce immunity, in a person exposed to them, to other, more dangerous viruses. For example, exposure to cowpox, which was seldom deadly and not particularly contagious, historically made people immune to smallpox, which was highly contagious and a very deadly disease. The smallpox vaccination was developed from cowpox, and has eliminated smallpox as a health threat worldwide.

Viruses can also play a role in evolution by transferring genomes, through a mechanism called horizontal gene transfer, through which an organism can incorporate genetic material from another organism to which it is not directly related. Horizontal gene transfer is like genetic engineering, but is a natural process and, presumably, happens by chance. A link is given below to an article on horizontal gene transfer in Wikipedia.

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Q: Are there beneficial viruses
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Related questions

What are some ways viruses can be beneficial?

One way is for vaccinations. They use dead or weakened viruses to inject into people/animals so they can form immunities.


What are the useful and harmful effects of viruses?

Some viruses are beneficial in that they have commercial uses. Examples are tulips with streaks of color. Other viruses cause diseases such as colds, HIV.


What term describes most bacteria?

Bacteria and viruses are the most common cause of food poisoning. The symptoms and severity of food poisoning vary, depending on which bacteria or virus has contaminated the food. The bacteria and viruses that cause the most illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States are: Salmonella.


What are benificial microorganisms?

Unlike viruses and bacteria, there are a number of beneficial microorganisms. For instance, the living bacteria that resides in yogurt is known to be good for the human digestive system.


Why the bacteria and viruses are main objects in the genetic?

Bacteria and Viruses are the main objects of study in the field of genetics for two reasons: bacteria are chosen because of their simplicity. Viruses are an interesting area of study because they survive by placing their own genetics into other organisms. This gives rise to the possibility of transplanting foreign and possibly beneficial DNA and RNA into hosts that previously did not have those helpful genes.


Is a virus a good virus or a bad virus or both?

it actually depends on the type of virus in question. There a viruses which are used to correct genetic abnormalities which are infact beneficial and there are others which are harmful to living organisms


Can antibodies always be beneficial?

Yes. The body's immune system uses them to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. However, they may not be sufficient to cure an illness and then is when treatment is needed.


Is increasing the genetic diversity beneficial?

Generally, yes. To have a wide variation in a population of organisms means that your population is better able to meat environmental challenges and survive through an onslaught of parasites, such as bacteria and viruses.


What are the 3 types viruses?

Computer viruses, Macro Viruses, and Directory Viruses


Virology is the study of what?

the study of viruses


What are the different garden pests?

Amphibians, arthropods, bacteria, birds, fungi, invasive plants, mammals, reptiles, viruses, and weeds are examples of the different garden pests. Some of the above-mentioned organisms become pests only at certain times and under specific circumstances, such as in the case of beneficial insects that pollinate and harmful insects that overeat and transmit viruses.


Microorganisms can be either beneficial or harmful.Name 2 beneficial microorganisms.How are they beneficial?

Probiotics