Virus: nature's hacker Over a billion years of evolution has given us a DNA that adapts very well to the environment. Each strand of DNA is like a piece of computer code, and surprisingly, it's open source code. The easiest way to modify the code is through viruses, which have evolved specifically to insert new genes into the host's DNA. The question is: does humanity have the right to tamper with this code? The answer lies in the nature of humanity; humans are explorers who have pushed beyond every boundary we have encountered. While the genetic engineering of viruses presents clear risks, these are outweighed by the potential gain in terms of medical and technological advances and the sheer thrill of going into the unknown. Viruses evolved in cells to modify cellular DNA; this is their purpose, so it is natural to try to manipulate them in an organic environment with the aim of curing diseases. The difficult part of inserting DNA into a cell is that you have to cut the DNA, insert the desired strands and close it all up again, without killing the cell. As Joe Palca, a science major, says, viruses are a cheaper way to deliver gene therapy. The virus can be transfused into the patient's blood where it will deliver the new genes to the cells. After the virus is injected, it will do all the work. One day gene therapy will be as easy as modifying a virus and injecting it into the patient. In fact, as Andrea Pavirani, molecular biologist says, "Viruses exist to rebuild themselves. The way they do this is by infecting cells and taking over their genetic apparatus. So a virus is an ideal delivery truck for a new gene" (qtd in Palca). Viruses are the perfect tool for modifying DNA, as they have naturally evolved this ability. To find or create... half of the paper... a genetically modified virus explodes cancer cells." NewScientist. Np, June 1, 2004. Web. April 30, 2014. Latham, Jonathan and Allison Wilson. "Regulators discover a hidden viral gene in commercial GMO crops." Independant Science News (2013): 30 pars. Web. Montgomery, Geoffrey. Web. 30 April 2014. Oh, Dahyun, Jifa Qi, Yi-Chun Lu, Yong Zhang, and Yang Shoa-Horn “Biologically enhanced cathode design for improved capacity and cycle life for lithium-oxygen batteries (2013). : 1-4. Web. May 11, 2014. Palca, Joe. "The promise of a cure". Discovery, June 1994: 76+ Genetic Code." TheNew York Times May 7, 2014. Web. May 10 2014.