system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Does DNA only become dangerous when it creates proteins with that intent?

I'm trying to understand this whole CRISPR innovation, and to my understanding it allows us to copy viral DNA to use as a cheat sheet for identifying viruses. Why isn't the viral DNA copied dangerous?
gpt
DNA isn't dangerous in and of itself. DNA is what tells your body how to make the proteins your body needs as it is.

Normally, viruses insert DNA that makes a cell start producing more of that virus (while also keeping it hush enough that the body doesn't just stop it right away by being able to easily tell that something is wrong).

CRISPR lets us use this same mechanism, but inserts different DNA instead, so we can code it to make whatever proteins we want.