Posted by: Zea_mays
« on: January 20, 2022, 10:08:23 pm »You've probably heard rightist testosterone junkies boast about being on the top of the food chain.
In fact, biologically, parasites are on the top of the food chain, since they are predators of humans, lions, and other species which are misleadingly labelled "apex predators". In fact, parasites that infect other parasites are even higher on the food chain. Viruses that infect the parasite are even higher (although, technically viruses are a type of parasite as well). Viruses that infect other viruses are higher still.
So, remember this when some tribalist boasts that they are at the top of the food chain.
In fact, biologically, parasites are on the top of the food chain, since they are predators of humans, lions, and other species which are misleadingly labelled "apex predators". In fact, parasites that infect other parasites are even higher on the food chain. Viruses that infect the parasite are even higher (although, technically viruses are a type of parasite as well). Viruses that infect other viruses are higher still.
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A hyperparasite is a parasite whose host, often an insect, is also a parasite,[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperparasite
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Virophages are small, double-stranded DNA viral phages that require the co-infection of another virus. The co-infecting viruses are typically giant viruses. Virophages rely on the viral replication factory of the co-infecting giant virus for their own replication. One of the characteristics of virophages is that they have a parasitic relationship with the co-infecting virus. Their dependence upon the giant virus for replication often results in the deactivation of the giant viruses.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virophage
So, remember this when some tribalist boasts that they are at the top of the food chain.

