How/why do viruses still exist?

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: yosuke188
I thought viruses continued to change and work around the immune system.

DING DING DING... tell him what he has won Johnny 😉

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: 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. 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.

Aren't prions the same thing as Viruses except without the protein shell?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: DaShen
Aren't prions the same thing as Viruses except without the protein shell?

Personally, I don't think the understanding of prions is very far along yet. Many theories about prions may be wrong. But the current idea is that a prion is just a malformed protein - not even DNA. This protein "tricks" other proteins to reshape themselves into the same misshapen prion form. Then like a pyramid scheme, more and more misshaped proteins transform other normal shaped proteins into misshapen ones.

 

[Mday]

viruses mutate very rapidly. much more so than bacteria. They are essentially nothing more than strands of DNA\RNA covered in a protective coat of proteins, and protruding molecules that are used to latch onto other molecules.

Think of it this way... how and why do cockroaches still exist? because nature finds a way. and viruses have been around for billions of years, predating cellular organisms.

our body's immune system is really just capable of destroying bacterial cells. This is done by breaking down the cell membrane. And viruses cannot be destroyed that way.

 

[Nocturnal]

I always thought it's because they mutate and once it changes your body's immune system hasn't built up protection against that new strain therefore you get reinfected.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: DaShen
Aren't prions the same thing as Viruses except without the protein shell?

Personally, I don't think the understanding of prions is very far along yet. Many theories about prions may be wrong. But the current idea is that a prion is just a malformed protein - not even DNA. This protein "tricks" other proteins to reshape themselves into the same misshapen prion form. Then like a pyramid scheme, more and more misshaped proteins transform other normal shaped proteins into misshapen ones.

ic. thanks. 🙂

 

[Pakman]

According to the Matrix, we are the Virus.

 

[Legend]

My understanding was that they can stay "active" for years, even in someone's body. It's not until someone's immune system becomes weaker do the symptoms appear.

Most non-elderly adults that get sick frequently do so by choice by letting their immune system get weak through poor diet. I used to get sick a couple of times a year when I ate junk, and get several colds. Now I can be around sick people at work, and I never get the slightest symptom of anything.

 

[Baked]

Man made viruses by pharmaceutical companies so they can make the ridiculously expensive antidotes to earn money.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: 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.

Viruses require the metabolic function of host cells to survive. They also reproduce and have genetic material. Viruses have both living and nonliving characteristics.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

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

Viruses can respond to the environment when not in the 'virion' state.