{"id":10727,"date":"2026-09-15T02:57:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zerospike.org\/?p=10727"},"modified":"2026-09-15T02:58:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T00:58:22","slug":"the-word-virus-originally-meant-poison-over-the-next-century-the-concept-was-repeatedly-redefined-shifting-from-toxin-to-filterable-agent-to-genetic-parasite-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zerospike.org\/en\/the-word-virus-originally-meant-poison-over-the-next-century-the-concept-was-repeatedly-redefined-shifting-from-toxin-to-filterable-agent-to-genetic-parasite-with\/","title":{"rendered":"The word \u201cvirus\u201d originally meant poison. Over the next century, the concept was repeatedly redefined\u2014shifting from toxin, to filterable agent, to genetic parasite\u2014with each reinvention shaped by the technology available to scientists at the time."},"content":{"rendered":"
“It can be said that virologists invent (and continually reinvent) the concept of a virus as part of the normal progress of their science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-William Summers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technology led, and the concept followed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n