Comments on: A clever way to hide… http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/ Becoming scientifically literate, one post at a time. Thu, 28 May 2009 16:57:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Prerak Patel http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-899 Prerak Patel Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:13:13 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-899 Viruses may very well be the founding of life on the planet. Non-living genetic matter which evolved into the complex life-forms of today. However, to my knowledge, viruses can only reproduce by infecting living organisms causing them to mutate. How could they have come first if there was no way for them to reproduce? Maybe living cells first developed alongside viruses, while the enzymes created by the viruses caused mutations which eventually led to the variety of species. Viruses may very well be the founding of life on the planet. Non-living genetic matter which evolved into the complex life-forms of today. However, to my knowledge, viruses can only reproduce by infecting living organisms causing them to mutate. How could they have come first if there was no way for them to reproduce? Maybe living cells first developed alongside viruses, while the enzymes created by the viruses caused mutations which eventually led to the variety of species.

]]> By: Prashi http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-895 Prashi Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:06:45 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-895 I too, doubt that viruses were around before living cells, because as they are unable to survive without a host, it is improbable that they would have evolved prior to the living cells that serve as their host. I believe that antigen shifting is a useful trait because it allows the virus to continue living within its host longer, and continue to reproduce. I believe that antigen shifting probably evolved in certain viruses because the environment with which they were faced was dangerous; however, since not all viruses exhibit this trait, I think that probably these viruses, such as the ones responsible for malaria and the flu, were forced to shift antigens to survive, and that these viruses became the only strain of the virus available, through natural selection. I too, doubt that viruses were around before living cells, because as they are unable to survive without a host, it is improbable that they would have evolved prior to the living cells that serve as their host. I believe that antigen shifting is a useful trait because it allows the virus to continue living within its host longer, and continue to reproduce. I believe that antigen shifting probably evolved in certain viruses because the environment with which they were faced was dangerous; however, since not all viruses exhibit this trait, I think that probably these viruses, such as the ones responsible for malaria and the flu, were forced to shift antigens to survive, and that these viruses became the only strain of the virus available, through natural selection.

]]> By: Kamene Dornubari-Ogidi http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Kamene Dornubari-Ogidi Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:34:42 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-886 This is more or less REALLY HILARIOUS! I was wondering, though. I do concur with Jocelyne's statement about antigen shifting becoming a danger. I mean, if the shift roughly once a year...I'm thinking, might'nt something develop, maybe like a mutation or...something. Something that allows antigen shifting to occur more frequently...? I mean. that would really reall...suck. And if that were to happen (i'm stepping unto really theoretical/delusional grounds here), how would we combat it. There is already a rousing lack of flu vaccines as it is... This is more or less REALLY HILARIOUS!

I was wondering, though. I do concur with Jocelyne’s statement about antigen shifting becoming a danger. I mean, if the shift roughly once a year…I’m thinking, might’nt something develop, maybe like a mutation or…something. Something that allows antigen shifting to occur more frequently…? I mean. that would really reall…suck.

And if that were to happen (i’m stepping unto really theoretical/delusional grounds here), how would we combat it. There is already a rousing lack of flu vaccines as it is…

]]> By: Marcos http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-880 Marcos Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:20:31 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-880 stand by for a new idea...wait for it...ok: what if viruses were originally alive, developed the antigen shifting ability through natural selection, were now able to survive in host organisms, thus the ability to sustain their own life became a "vestigal ability" if you will, and they lost it. Now we have these zombie ancestors of the original virus ancestors. This hypothesis also gives a point to viruses before cells. stand by for a new idea…wait for it…ok: what if viruses were originally alive, developed the antigen shifting ability through natural selection, were now able to survive in host organisms, thus the ability to sustain their own life became a “vestigal ability” if you will, and they lost it. Now we have these zombie ancestors of the original virus ancestors. This hypothesis also gives a point to viruses before cells.

]]> By: Kishan http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Kishan Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:24:58 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-848 Shifting antigens makes it much easier for the virus to enter a host cell, with out causing much alarm in the body. This also makes the job for scientists much harder, they will have to keep on making new vaccines,or atleast do enough research to find a way vaccinate a person against a virus through all of its diffrent antigens. I highly doubt that viruses were here long before living cells, because only way a virus could survive is if its feeding off of a host cell, and there is no way that viruses could have been around before living organisms Shifting antigens makes it much easier for the virus to enter a host cell, with out causing much alarm in the body. This also makes the job for scientists much harder, they will have to keep on making new vaccines,or atleast do enough research to find a way vaccinate a person against a virus through all of its diffrent antigens. I highly doubt that viruses were here long before living cells, because only way a virus could survive is if its feeding off of a host cell, and there is no way that viruses could have been around before living organisms

]]> By: Isha Banerjea http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/comment-page-1/#comment-830 Isha Banerjea Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:28:38 +0000 http://thebiologyspace.edublogs.org/2008/02/10/a-clever-way-to-hide/#comment-830 One point I'm still debating in my mind is the idea that viruses came before cells. If they were created before cells, how were they created? If they were created after cells, why did they do so? Viruses are a bit of a haze for me, however, one thing is clear. They are multiplying, cell destroying, survival driven, annoyances, in many cases. What scares me is the fact that viruses such as HIV, which we haven't been able to find a cure for thus far, can take on antigen shifting. Now that would be disastrous. One point I’m still debating in my mind is the idea that viruses came before cells. If they were created before cells, how were they created? If they were created after cells, why did they do so? Viruses are a bit of a haze for me, however, one thing is clear. They are multiplying, cell destroying, survival driven, annoyances, in many cases. What scares me is the fact that viruses such as HIV, which we haven’t been able to find a cure for thus far, can take on antigen shifting. Now that would be disastrous.

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