NERD ALERT!

[spookloops]

OMG OMG OMG, I'm so fascinated!

I've always been fascinated by how viruses work. Essentially, they are a bundle of genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside of a durable capsule that binds to a host cell, fuses or injects its genetic material into the cell, and causes the cell to begin replicating altered (viral) DNA or RNA of it's own. Some of these

Comments

[insane_pencil]

Viruses aren't considered alive because they cannot reproduce themselves. They need a living cell in order to reproduce.

Prions are really NOTHING like viruses. They are infectious protien and contain no genetic material at all. They seem to cause neighboring, healthy protiens to twist into the prion form.

[spookloops]

Certain bacteria, parasites, and fungi also cannot reproduce themselves without a living cell, yet they are considered organisms. Ditto for some of these that lack true cellular structure or the ability to metabolise for themselves; these characteristics are all considered accepted qualifications defining an "organsim. Is a virus really all that different when the exceptions of a virus are compared to other exceptions

[insane_pencil]

That is not true of bacteria, parasites of fungi. They themselves contain, or are, living cells. Viruses are just DNA or RNA in a protein sheath.

A mosquito may need blood to reproduce, but if it is injured, it can make more cells to heal itself. A virus can't repair itself.

Viruses are little more than swimming hypodermics. Prions even less than that. Oh, the clever boulder that rolls down the hill and crushes the car!

[spookloops]

Certain bacteria and fungi barely qualify as living things

[pantsu_chan]

I freely admit that I am ubergeek! I'd love to do another science geekery costume to top my hydrothermal vent.

[spookloops]

One of us should have a prion costume and the other a virus costume so we can have a cage match. I'm sure Tina Turner needs the money these days to reprise her Mad Max role.

[foos_nerdlet]

D....Did I seriously just read that debate? Jesus Fucking Christ.

T, you need to make plushies of lame things on the whole so you can nab an artist alley table and make mad moniez!

[spookloops]

Dude, have you ever seen the microorganisms in Moyashimon?? They're cute as crap!!! I've been dying to make plushies of them. (Go watch the intro on youtube, it's posted in high quality).

[spookloops]

D....Did I seriously just read that debate? Jesus Fucking Christ.

Nerdraaaage. It's SRZ BIZNIS.