Whoa

Every once in awhile I read something that absolutely floors me. I don't know why this particular article thrills me so much, but I seriously feel like a gazillion light bulbs just got turned on in my head. Probably nothing new here for some of you, but I'm excited.

New Scientist: Viruses: The unsung heroes of evolution

[T]he era of genomics has unexpectedly revealed a much richer picture of viruses as a creative evolutionary force of unparalleled reach and power. "Everywhere you look, viruses seem to be playing a crucial role in evolution," says Luis Villarreal, director of the Center for Virus Research at the University of California, Irvine. "I would argue that they are the most creative genetic entities that we know of."