Anyway, what are the Dragon Balls? The Dragon Balls are seven magic balls that when putted together, they summon the dragon Serron, who will grand you one wish. After that the Dragon Balls split all over the world and for one year they are just like stones.
The Dragon Balls have created by the Good Spirit of earth. The Good Spirit has created them because of the memory of some magical balls at his home planet Namek.
Dragon Balls (as you can imagine) was the start of the story of Dragon Ball. But not because of the wish! Son Goku wanted the ball with the 4 star because it was the only memorial of his step grandfather Son    Gohan.
Bulma have said the whole story to Son Goku and from then they have collected the Dragon Balls over 5 times! But the most of the wishes were to revive there friends.
Something like the Dragon Balls but with greater power is in planet Namek.
Son Goku has not needed the Dragon Ball a lot but if there were not those little magic balls I am sure that Son Goku will not had such good friends and not such power! Of course he will not have died but if he haven't died he will not be trained to fight the remaining very strong Sayiajins.

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