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Biochemistry: Cell Biology & Radioactivity

Image result for biology virus gif

Found this adorable animation of how a virus replicates - viruses are really cool! They act alive but aren't 'alive' as we define life. They are fully parasitic, depending on their hosts to support their reproductive functions.

What I find so interesting is their uncompromising drive to replicate - it can be so aggressive, that it kills the host too quickly, before it can spread - as in the case of filoviruses like Ebola, some strains of which have mortality of up to 90%. Influenza is a 'smarter' virus, in that there is a longer incubation period in which the host might spread the disease while exhibiting few to zero symptoms.

Viruses can adapt, but only in the most direct, obvious ways - by manipulating the defenses and metabolism of the host cells. Thank goodness, because these mighty little machines would be terrifying if capable of critical thinking.


http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0002397
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/virus.html

Comments

  1. EssentialQiAugust 13, 2018 at 5:57 PM

    I love the virus animation! Viruses scare me, even without the ability to use critical thinking. As you mentioned, their uncompromising drive to replicate can also lead to cancers. I hope scientists make more dramatic discoveries on how to control their ability to replicate in the near future.

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