Virology Lectures 2019 #1: What is a virus?

In this first lecture of my 2019 Columbia University virology course, we define viruses, discuss their discovery and fundamental properties, including whether or not they are alive, and explain why they are amazing.

[Rxoxoxo]

I took this course last year and yet coming back to listening to these lectures again because they are awesome!

[ivetamazite]

Thank you so, so much! This year could't start even better. I am so happy I found this course. Your passion for virology is heart warming.

[drandrewsanchez]

looked up a video series on viruses so now I'm watching them amidst this whole covid-19 epidemic

[funkyflights]

You’re an awesome teacher ! Appreciate the virus education ...

[SuperBestart]

Great dear professor. Your introduction and your way of developing Ideas just stimulated my curiosity about viruses. thanks!

[hemantamaity]

Dear Vincent, this course is amazing and thank you for uploading this course in YouTube each year. It helps the virology students throughout the world. Its a very good attempt to spread the knowledge and we can afford this great course for free. I tell most of the students to subscribe the Twiv channel. Thank you.

[zebedeeandrew]

awesome lectures. its really helpful. I'm interested in virology and the relationship between immune system and viral infection, because of the fact that most of the viral infections still remain incurable, even challenging to create vaccine.

[JasonCunliffe]

Not only are Viruses amazing, but also how amaziing is this course, & its brilliant amazing passionate teacher.

Oh to be-here-now with access to free education of this calibre day&night
The worst of Times
The best of Times
Thank you

[muhammadwaqasiqbal]

Chemical Engineer here! loved your lecture and going to listen to all of the rest of your lectures. Thank you for making it so easy to understand.

[isoulkeeper]

Excellent! Like being back to the university again after 25 years 👍🏻👍🏻

[jean-micheljasinski]

Very nice partage of enthusiasm and knowledge, thanks a lot, Vincent !

[wbptr]

Hi. Great course. I noticed something watching this. Have you thought that the study of viruses could easily contain the key to curing some of our most challenging illnesses such as AIDS/HIV and cancer? We barely understand our own immune system among other things. Absolutely fascinating stuff!

[shwanibrahim]

Wonderful dr Thank you. I have a question please: Why does anti HBs antigen appears before Anti HBc antigen??

[Ave_Satani]

The current SARS pandemic left your business card.
Thank you for updating this doc, now to the next..

[preethithiyagarajan]

Thank you so much I want to be a virologist in the near future and you sir are a big help and a big thank u again and I'm in the ninth grade

[Mars]

Not all heros wear capes... But this guy could very well wear one.

[XxDanielaxX]

Hello, I'm totally new to the field and for sure I might understand better after more lectures of the series.
😅😅😅

I have listened to lecture #1 a few times now (also from different years) and I'm struggling with the expression used:
All viruses must make mRNA that can be translated [...]
My so far understanding (also from earlier versions of the lecture) would be that viruses don't think and don't do all that kind of human stuff. They seem to be actually only well arranged and wrapped up
(bio-)chemicals. In that case I would imagine them just to exist without any musts or needs, without wishes, instincts or any other drive... so I wonder if there isn't any other way to express it.

Of course, as I said, probably I'll understand better after having studied more of the lectures.
Just wanted to write in the comments the question I had in mind after thinking through what I'd listened to.

[HackMyControlSystem]

Fascinating. Any recommendations for reading?

[Sabrintb]

I was supposed to take virology on this first semester of the year if not for corona virus. I guess it's time to stop lazying around and start to catch up. God knows I've run out of things to do.

[pedrosmith]

YouTube recommended this video to me. I see what you did there.