[vegascowboy]

Many of you may not know this about me, but I have a background in science.

I am a cowboy, through and through, but I enjoy learning about the world around me, and I always excelled in biology in middle school, high school, and at the university.

At one time, I considered (and pursued) a career in epidemiology (with an emphasis on virology) and pathology. I have studied viruses all my life, ever since I was 8 years old (truly), and I have a profound fear/love/respect for them.

This thread is for all who wish to discuss viruses and (to a lesser extent ) bacteria and parasites.

I know a great deal about them, though I do not (yet) have a degree in this field.

Let's talk about them!

I invite all scientists and interested parties to participate.

[Stripe]

I reckon viruses get a bad rap.

[vegascowboy]

One aspect I'd really like to discuss...

Do you believe that viruses are alive? Are they "life forms?"

Some say that they are the oldest existing "life" on the planet.

What are your thoughts?

Viruses, to me, seem to exist in the grey area between life and death. They have some attributes and characteristics shared with living creatures, but lack some important ones.

Thoughts?

[Stripe]

I think they are messenger organisms between multi-cellular life forms. They are alive in the same way the cells in our bodies are. I.e. they could not be considered alive except as part of a complete biological system.

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Stripe

I reckon viruses get a bad rap.

Agreed. I am probably not entirely normal, but I really enjoy studying viruses.

Bacteria are wimps!!

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Stripe

I think they are messenger organisms between multi-cellular life forms. They are alive in the same way the cells in our bodies are. I.e. they could not be considered alive except as part of a complete biological system.

It's interesting to me that, when viruses are OUTSIDE cells...i.e. they are floating around in the blood stream...they are dormant and don't do ANYTHING. They are, for all intents and purposes, dead.

When a cell comes along, however, and the "sticky" part of a virus matches the "sticky" part of a cell...and the cell "takes the virus in"...the virus wakes up and goes to work doing the only thing it knows how to do...replicate.

[Dan Emanuel]

Originally Posted by vegascowboy

One aspect I'd really like to discuss...

Do you believe that viruses are alive? Are they "life forms?"

Some say that they are the oldest existing "life" on the planet.

What are your thoughts?

Viruses, to me, seem to exist in the grey area between life and death. They have some attributes and characteristics shared with living creatures, but lack some important ones.

Thoughts?

I thought viruses required a host in order to replicate, meaning, their not alive themselves. Perhaps they existed before creatures were made, the Bible doesn't say. If there is any truth at all to evolution, that new species have appeared since the creation event, is it possible that it was due to viruses' ability to inject new DNA into existing living cells? That God directed this post-creation evolution through manipulating these objects intelligently?


Daniel

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Dan Emanuel

I thought viruses required a host in order to replicate, meaning, their not alive themselves. Perhaps they existed before creatures were made, the Bible doesn't say. If there is any truth at all to evolution, that new species have appeared since the creation event, is it possible that it was due to viruses' ability to inject new DNA into existing living cells? That God directed this post-creation evolution through manipulating these objects intelligently?


Daniel

Hello Daniel!

I believe the Bible and God wholeheartedly!

I wonder at a virus' place in God's creation. Some viruses have DNA while many only contain RNA. There are a lot who consider RNA to be the basic and earliest form of "life."

Let's take Ebola virus, for example. The Mayinga strain of Ebola Zaire, is, arguably, the most lethal virus known to mankind. There have been many reported and documented "microbreaks" since 1976 of this virus. It has not, however, caused an epidemic or a pandemic. It has not established itself among humans, so to speak.

If it did, the world and humankind as we know it would be over. There is no cure. There is no hope.

The most virulent strains of Ebola have a kill rate of 90+ percent. This would be more devastating than the influenza pandemic of the early 20th century.

What has prevented Ebola from "taking" humans a few at a time and not eliminating them entirely? I believe it is God who has prevented it. It would be so easy for a virus to sweep the world and eliminate mankind. So easy.

As of several days ago, Ebola has once again taken the lives of a dozen people in Africa. It comes and goes...

[Dan Emanuel]

Originally Posted by vegascowboy

Hello Daniel!

I believe the Bible and God wholeheartedly!

I wonder at a virus' place in God's creation. Some viruses have DNA while many only contain RNA. There are a lot who consider RNA to be the basic and earliest form of "life."

Let's take Ebola virus, for example. The Mayinga strain of Ebola Zaire, is, arguably, the most lethal virus known to mankind. There have been many reported and documented "microbreaks" since 1976 of this virus. It has not, however, caused an epidemic or a pandemic. It has not established itself among humans, so to speak.

If it did, the world and humankind as we know it would be over. There is no cure. There is no hope.

The most virulent strains of Ebola have a kill rate of 90+ percent. This would be more devastating than the influenza pandemic of the early 20th century.

What has prevented Ebola from "taking" humans a few at a time and not eliminating them entirely? I believe it is God who has prevented it. It would be so easy for a virus to sweep the world and eliminate mankind. So easy.

Of course it is God. It is God Who has allowed mankind to survive this far, and it will be God Who allows us to continue any further into the future.

Don't we have a long and successful history of containing and protecting ourselves from viruses and other pathogens? Hasn't God taught us how to protect ourselves from pathogens, dating back most famously to the Black Plague? What is the mode of transmission for ebola? Through the air is the most threatening way, right? Is there a more dangerous way for viruses to spread than through the air?

Anyway, hello vegascowboy!


Daniel

[Stripe]

I doubt God actively stops viruses from spreading. There is almost certainly a knowable, scientific function that limits the reach of viruses.

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Dan Emanuel

What is the mode of transmission for ebola?

So far, Ebola has demonstrated the same relatively difficult mode of transmission as HIV. There was a scare some years ago that it had adapted itself to transmission by air. This proved not to be the case, thank God.

Through the air is the most threatening way, right? Is there a more dangerous way for viruses to spread than through the air?

I do not believe there is. In theory, this method of transmission, when applied to several known pathogens, could result in the elimination of mankind.

Anyway, hello vegascowboy!

Hello to you as well!

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Stripe

I doubt God actively stops viruses from spreading. There is almost certainly a knowable, scientific function that limits the reach of viruses.

Don't stop! I am very curious as to your theories on this!

[vegascowboy]

Our problem (with Ebola virus, at least...and please don't limit all discussion in this thread to that particular virus...although it is my favorite and the one about which I am the most knowlegeable...) is that scientists do not to this day know the main host and vector for Ebola. Years of research has yielded dead ends. No vector, no cure.

[Stripe]

I'm not much of a biology guy so I couldn't point to any specific functions that might be active in this regard. But from a philosophical point of view, and a good philosophy of science can prove a great benefit to rational discussion, I think it must be that way.

[vegascowboy]

Originally Posted by Stripe

I'm not much of a biology guy so I couldn't point to any specific functions that might be active in this regard. But from a philosophical point of view, and a good philosophy of science can prove a great benefit to rational discussion, I think it must be that way.

I've never been good at mathematics. Perhaps this is the reason that biology has always appealed to me and the reason I've always excelled in the study of biology. (Shhhhhhh...don't tell any biologists I said this! ) Biology has (relatively speaking) the least amount of math. I really love it.