How/why do viruses still exist?

[Shawn]

Not computer viruses but real viruses. It seems to me that one of two things happen when a virus infects an organism. It is either eliminated by the organism's immune system or it kills the organism and thus killing the virus also. Doesn't exactly sound like a very good way to survive and yet viruses still exist. Any thoughts?

 

[Eli]

...

The same thing could be said of any infectious organism.

It just doesen't work like that. Even though your immune system may be activly destroying the invader, you are still spreading it around everytime you cough, rub your nose and touch something else, etc. And so the cycle continues....

 

[Vic]

They live long enough to replicate and infect a new host.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Eli
...

The same thing could be said of any infectious organism.

It just doesen't work like that. Even though your immune system may be activly destroying the invader, you are still spreading it around everytime you cough, rub your nose and touch something else, etc. And so the cycle continues....

Well bacteria can live outside of a host though right?

 

[scottish144]

Viruses don't die of natural causes. All they consist of is a protein shell and DNA (or RNA), with an injection mechanism of some sort to enter the cell. A virus in a container could live forever if left undisturbed. Plus, viruses aren't always eliminated by the immune system. The cold sore virus (Herpes Simplex 1) simply stays dormant within a cell, and reinfects the host whenever the immune system weakens. Viruses can remain this way for years.

 

[spaceghost21]

Isn't it possible for a virus to live in a host and not harm it? Like in a monkey that could then pass it on to a human? Or am I just crazy?

 

[Kadarin]

IIRC, it's questionable in some cases as to whether you can consider a virus to be "alive"..

 

[Xylitol]

Originally posted by: scottish144
Viruses don't die of natural causes. All they consist of is a protein shell and DNA (or RNA), with an injection mechanism of some sort to enter the cell. A virus in a container could live forever if left undisturbed. Plus, viruses aren't always eliminated by the immune system. The cold sore virus (Herpes Simplex 1) simply stays dormant within a cell, and reinfects the host whenever the immune system weakens. Viruses can remain this way for years.

I got lost
but

Viruses are invinsible almost?

 

[Sundog]

There are more viruses in a single drop of ocean water than you would care to think about. The number of viruses than infect humans is miniscule when compared to the number that can infect bacteria.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: Xylitol

Originally posted by: scottish144
Viruses don't die of natural causes. All they consist of is a protein shell and DNA (or RNA), with an injection mechanism of some sort to enter the cell. A virus in a container could live forever if left undisturbed. Plus, viruses aren't always eliminated by the immune system. The cold sore virus (Herpes Simplex 1) simply stays dormant within a cell, and reinfects the host whenever the immune system weakens. Viruses can remain this way for years.

I got lost
but

Viruses are invinsible almost?

Almost. Some viruses lack the ability to remain within a cell, and these are destroyed outright by the immune system.
In many cases, however, the virus simply goes into remission, and is surpressed by the immune system until the immune
system is weakened.

 

[dullard]

Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed". They can be distroyed though.

Its like saying that I "killed" a brick. I could break a brick into little bits or otherwise distroy it. I just can't kill a brick.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: dullard
Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed". They can be distroyed though.

Its like saying that I "killed" a brick. I could break a brick into little bits or otherwise distroy it. I just can't kill a brick.

But we can kill all the people that have virii and thus eliminate the source of the infection???

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: dullard
Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed". They can be distroyed though.

Its like saying that I "killed" a brick. I could break a brick into little bits or otherwise distroy it. I just can't kill a brick.

But you can sure as hell throw it as someone's truck!
That doesn't work as well with a virus.

 

[Crono]

It's because the spread and reproduce too quickly.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: dullard
Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed". They can be distroyed though.

Its like saying that I "killed" a brick. I could break a brick into little bits or otherwise distroy it. I just can't kill a brick.

But we can kill all the people that have virii and thus eliminate the source of the infection???

Yes, and then only Bunny will be left, and he will rule the world.

 

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: dullard
Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed".

I've heard this frequently and I don't doubt it is true, but I don't understand. They replicate (if not through their own capacity), & they evolve when necessary. Why are they not considered alive? Is it because they need a host to replicate?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: MagicConch
I've heard this frequently and I don't doubt it is true, but I don't understand. They replicate (if not through their own capacity), & they evolve when necessary. Why are they not considered alive? Is it because they need a host to replicate?

So do robots - they replicate (not yet by their own capacity) and they are always being improved (evolving). So does that mean robots are alive?

I don't know what your particular definition of life is. Many people think life includes common functions as: reproduction (can make more of itself through its own capacity), metabolism (eats food and/or uses energy), and responds to stimuli (any response at all). Viruses have none of those three.

 

[Pathogen03]

its because they dont consume anything, they dont emit waste, they dont burn energy, and if I recall high school bio, thats the foundations of something being alive.

edit

beaten to it by dullard, his answer owned mine

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Not computer viruses but real viruses. It seems to me that one of two things happen when a virus infects an organism. It is either eliminated by the organism's immune system or it kills the organism and thus killing the virus also. Doesn't exactly sound like a very good way to survive and yet viruses still exist. Any thoughts?

viruses mutate ftw

 

[Analog]

For a virus then to be classified as alive it must:

* Reproduce - viruses don't reproduce like normal cells
* Obtain and use energy - viruses don't eat
* Grow, develop, and die - viruses don't grow
* Respond to the environment - viruses can't move or respond

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: dullard
Viruses aren't alive. Thus viruses can't be "killed". They can be distroyed though.

Its like saying that I "killed" a brick. I could break a brick into little bits or otherwise distroy it. I just can't kill a brick.

But we can kill all the people that have virii and thus eliminate the source of the infection???

Yeah on a serious note though, if everyone with HIV/AIDS just..died and never passed it on somehow, wouldn't that virus just "die"? I heard though that AIDS is going to go away after a few decades as well, don't certain virii just die then?

 

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
For a virus then to be classified as alive it must:

* Reproduce - viruses don't reproduce like normal cells
* Obtain and use energy - viruses don't eat
* Grow, develop, and die - viruses don't grow
* Respond to the environment - viruses can't move or respond

Interesting, that makes sense.

 

[yosuke188]

I thought viruses continued to change and work around the immune system.

 

[Shawn]

But if it's not alive than what is it?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Shawn
But if it's not alive than what is it?

A virus is simply a rouge piece of DNA. DNA that was once from a living organism, but broke free and continues to trick other living organisms to replicate the virus DNA. The cell eventually breaks, the virus DNA escapes, and the whole process repeats.

One could argue that viruses are a bit more than just DNA though. A virus also needs protection. So the virus tricks the cell to produce a 1+ protein(s) that provide a shell for the virus.

Hmm, a virus is just like a forwarded email. You know those emails that say forward it or something bad will happen. The email is just data (DNA is just data). The email tricks people to copy it, then tricks them to send the copies out to other victims.