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SO ENDS our review of evolutionary genomic simplification. Simple organisms are generally regarded as lesser in the Victorian tree of life. Even viruses, that many think are not living. But evolution shows that in many cases, simpler systems with outsourced genes may in fact be more advanced. And often much older. And smaller systems can in fact be a greater complexity. It takes a lot to be simple. View in LinkedIn

THE GREAT PLATE COUNT ANOMALY: "typically

MORE SUPERLATIVES. "There are an estimated 10(31) viruses on Earth. That is to say: there may be a hundred million times more viruses on Earth than there are stars in the universe." https://lnkd.in/dzmPw57 View in LinkedIn

OUR VIRAL GENOME. "Viruses may be our third genome. We harbor about 1.5 kg of bacteria in our guts – 1,500 different types. Viruses are also a major component in our guts. Two hundred types have been detected in human gut samples based on similarities to known viruses." https://lnkd.in/eGaw2Kq View in LinkedIn

OUR BACTERIAL GENOME. "Bacterial information is our second genome, with a total genetic complexity about 100 times greater than that of our own genome. We are 99 % bacteria – with respect to the total genetic information of our body." https://lnkd.in/eGaw2Kq View in LinkedIn

SIMPLE IS THE NEW COMPLEX. "The interesting thing about these results is that they indicate that viruses must have diversified from ancient cells by a process called reductive evolution, where organisms simplify instead of becoming more complex." http://www.popsci.com/new-evidence-that-viruses-are-alive View in LinkedIn

STREAMLINED BEASTS. "Viruses are ancient and have played a major role in biological evolution. Such structurally simple creatures were not defined as living until recently. They take over a host's cellular machinery in order to replicate, and as such are true obligate parasites, unable to replicate without a host." https://lnkd.in/enwDruZ View in LinkedIn

ABUNDANCE. "It has been realized quite recently that viral particles are by far the most abundant biological entities on our planet. Indeed, they are ten times more abundant than bacterial cells in the upper ocean." https://lnkd.in/enwDruZ View in LinkedIn

ORIGINAL INHABITANTS. "There are 10 to the 33 viruses on our planet, about 10 times more than bacteria. There are only about 10 to the 9 human beings – a small minority, which makes us the invaders in the viral world, not vice versa. They are present in the oceans, 10 to the 12 per ml, in the soil, abundant in plants, and inside the human body. Healthy humans consist of about 10 to the 13 cells and harbor 10 to the 14 to 10 to the 18 bacteria and an unknown number of viruses." https://lnkd.in/eGaw2Kq View in LinkedIn

Yesterday, I served on a panel of judges at London Business School's Healthcare challenge, where five finalist pitched for a 10,000 pound prize. A great team from Innersight (3D radiologic imaging for surgery) won the competition. As usual, LBS Heathcare Club excelled. View in LinkedIn