FIRST GENOME SEQUENCED!!!!

Nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage phi X174 DNA. 
Sanger F, Air GM, Barrell BG, Brown NL, Coulson AR, Fiddes CA, Hutchison CA, Slocombe PM, Smith M.

Abstract

A DNA sequence for the genome of bacteriophage phi X174 of approximately 5,375 nucleotides has been determined using the rapid and simple 'plus and minus' method. The sequence identifies many of the features responsible for the production of the proteins of the nine known genes of the organism, including initiation and termination sites for the proteins and RNAs. Two pairs of genes are coded by the same region of DNA using different reading frames.

Nature. 1977 Feb 24;265(5596):687-95.

Why is this cool?

 Remember that revolution that I mentioned? Well, here is one of the big starting points. Fred Sanger and co-workers sequence the very first genome: Bacteriophage phi X174!! Just as a reminder, bacteriophages are viruses that kill bacteria and not so much anything else (I might be wrong about this last part). To put this in perspective, that first genome was published in 1977 years before home computing, AIDS (some debate here), the public use internet, and the Gulf War. To reveal more of the timeline, the first free living organism genome sequenced was 18 years later in 1995!! The size of the bacteriophage phi X174 genome is 5000 base pairs and only codes for 11 genes!! I'm not sure when the function for all those genes was determined, but that might be interesting. 
 Speaking of interesting viruses, one of the crazy ones has to be THE TRANSMODE VIRUS!!

Magus, Warlock's father and an old school Technarch.

The transmode (or techno-organic) virus seems to convert organic matter to techno-organic matter. The Technarchy are carriers of the virus and when organic matter is infected, the Technarchy can steal the life force of the infected. 

Cameron Hodge was a phalanx.

The infected organic matter becomes the phalanx, a hive mind geared towards creating more infection. After a certain amount of time, the phalanx can form a tower to call the Technarchy to have them steal the life force of the infected. The first Technarchy character to appear in a comic was Warlock!! He used to be my favorite character.

Warlock!!

 Cable was infected with a techno-organic virus, but I don't know if it was the Transmode virus.