In the decades that followed, virologists went on to dissect viruses, to map their molecular geography. While viruses contain nucleic acids and proteins like our own cells, scientists found that differences between the structures of viruses and cells are many. A human cell is stuffed with millions of different molecules that it uses to sense its surroundings, crawl around, take in food, grow, and decide whether to divide in two or kill itself for the good of its fellow
