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SignalDifficult5061 t1_j9gtcui wrote

The technical term is syncytium.
Some other people mentioned a couple of things, but the placenta is particularly interesting because there is evidence that is arose as a result of co-option of a viral gene. Some modern viruses cause syncytium formation in host cells as part of their life cycle.

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i_love_rettardit t1_j9n952h wrote

> Some modern viruses cause syncytium formation in host cells as part of their life cycle.

i.e. in the news we hear of flu, covid, and RSV

RSV = respiratory syncytial virus

The virus that spread simply by causing neighboring cells to merge.

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