What is the probability of three/four viruses combining?
Asked by
Pazza (
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)
December 9th, 2009
Americans thought that the day they got a black president, pigs would fly. Three months later, swine flu!.....
All joking aside, we are told that swine flu has components from four other viruses (although I had heard it was three), and a quick search on google produces even more confusion.
Though I’m no virologist (by any means) I am skeptical of how this can come about. Just wondered if anyone could shed any light on the subject, or had an opinion, or do you think big pharma is justifying its own existance, or worse…...
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9 Answers
This’ll be no thread for a hypochondriac to stumble into!
Viruses have DNA and RNA that can be transferred to other organisms (like humans), and to other viruses. When new viral cells are formed, DNA is replicated, and the result is virus cells with characteristics of both types of viruses. And so on and so on, until you get viruses with characteristics of several other viruses.
The moral of the story is – wash your hands!
Although your opening line is off topic for your own question, it invites a response. By no means all Americans had that attitude. I’m guessing you’re not American, but no matter where you’re from, wouldn’t it be odd if a single political statement applied to your whole society?
don’t rush me, I’m working on it, when I’m done…highly probable
I call it the iloveKlezNimdaMyDoom virus. (inside joke for intarwebz pplz)
I thought viruses only had RNA, going to have to do some homework.
The CDC has characterized this combination as unusual. I personally think that says plenty.
“We know so far that the viruses contain genetic pieces from four different virus sources. This is unusual. The first is our North American swine influenza viruses. North American avian influenza viruses, human influenza viruses and swine influenza viruses found in Asia and Europe.”
II didn’t get answers on google re DNA, but in my old [old] nursing text it says only RNA. Tell me what has happened in th virus world in the last 30 years.
@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities
Virus cells? Do viruses have a nucleus?
If so, does a visus become unable to replicate within a organic cell if this dna/rna has unrepairable damage?
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