Lets talk about Viruses...

[BigToque]

I don't actually know much about them, so I'd be interested to learn what you guys know.

What exactly is a virus? I've heard that you can't actually 'kill' a virus because it's not technically alive.

This is the field I think my GF wants to go into.

 

[minendo]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:virus

 

[Aves]

*insert obligatory "I thought you were talking about computer viruses" post*

 

[Brutuskend]

Virus'=something produced by anti Virus companies to help "promote" their products?

 

[JetBlack69]

I thought you were talking about computer viruses

 

[brunswickite]

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
I thought you were talking about computer viruses

 

[thereds]

Virii.

 

[Brutuskend]

Nasty!

 

[dug777]

they are evil little machines 😉

i think you are right, they aren't technically alive (now where's that 'scared' icon? )

 

[ChooChooChooseMe]

Originally posted by: brunswickite

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
I thought you were talking about computer viruses

:thumbsdown:

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: thereds
Virii.

Text

 

[BullyCanadian]

well they arent technically alive (they have dont have certain traits that are needed to be called 100% alive) but they arent exactly dead either, i dont feel like typing much right now, (trying to read some articles and then leaving to gym) but I can inform you with everything I know after Im back from the gym

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: aves2k
*insert obligatory "I thought you were talking about computer viruses" post*

This would be the wrong forum for that.
😉

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
well they arent technically alive (they have dont have certain traits that are needed to be called 100% alive) but they arent exactly dead either, i dont feel like typing much right now, (trying to read some articles and then leaving to gym) but I can inform you with everything I know after Im back from the gym

:camera:s of you at the gym? 😉

 

[Ophir]

Viruses are not alive by the technical definition of the term. They are obligate intracellular parasites (they cannot replicate unless they are within a host cell) and do not possess a plasma membrane (though they may be enveloped in protein).

It is thought that they are "rogue" nucleic acids that have evolved to replicate without respect for the host cell function. Viruses replicate by infecting a host cell and using its anabolic machinery to synthesize their own nucleotides and proteins (incl. enzymes). On their own they are essentially dead.

edit: had a brain fart, enzymes are proteins.

 

[suse920]

Originally posted by: brunswickite

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
I thought you were talking about computer viruses

 

[imported_KirbsAw]

Originally posted by: Ophir
Viruses are not alive by the technical definition of the term. They are obligate intracellular parasites (they cannot replicate unless they are within a host cell) and do not possess a plasma membrane (though they may be enveloped in protein).

It is thought that they are "rogue" nucleic acids that have evolved to replicate without respect for the host cell function. Viruses replicate by infecting a host cell and using its anabolic machinery to synthesize their own nucleotides, proteins, and necessary enzymes. On their own they are essentially dead.

You sound smart.

 

[Ophir]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian
well they arent technically alive (they have dont have certain traits that are needed to be called 100% alive) but they arent exactly dead either, i dont feel like typing much right now, (trying to read some articles and then leaving to gym) but I can inform you with everything I know after Im back from the gym

Well there is much debate as to the classification of viruses as alive or not. In general, I am inclined to believe they are not, as they cannot replicate on their own nor can they produce metabolic processes on their own.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Ophir
Viruses are not alive by the technical definition of the term. They are obligate intracellular parasites (they cannot replicate unless they are within a host cell) and do not possess a plasma membrane (though they may be enveloped in protein).

It is thought that they are "rogue" nucleic acids that have evolved to replicate without respect for the host cell function. Viruses replicate by infecting a host cell and using its anabolic machinery to synthesize their own nucleotides and proteins (incl. enzymes). On their own they are essentially dead.

edit: had a brain fart, enzymes are proteins.

Looking at it another way, you could call them immortal.