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What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

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Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#11

Post by gowld »

saagarjha wrote: post #10
tcgv wrote: post #5

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe. I remember 20 year ago, at school, when the biology teacher was presenting this dilemma. Ever since, when I hear someone saying "doing this will kill the virus", it triggers my brain into this subject, since you can't kill something if it's not alive ;) Somewhat related, I also like the concept of the "Viruses of the Mind" [1], which makes an analogy between the spreading of a biol…

You can certainly deactivate things that aren't alive, though.

Is a virus active?

It can be considered a toxin that a cell reacts to by creating more of the toxin.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#12

Post by krustyburger »

saagarjha wrote: post #10
tcgv wrote: post #5

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe. I remember 20 year ago, at school, when the biology teacher was presenting this dilemma. Ever since, when I hear someone saying "doing this will kill the virus", it triggers my brain into this subject, since you can't kill something if it's not alive ;) Somewhat related, I also like the concept of the "Viruses of the Mind" [1], which makes an analogy between the spreading of a biol…

You can certainly deactivate things that aren't alive, though.

My instructor was Mr. Langley... and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#13

Post by whatshisface »

boring_twenties wrote: post #9
tcgv wrote: post #5

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe. I remember 20 year ago, at school, when the biology teacher was presenting this dilemma. Ever since, when I hear someone saying "doing this will kill the virus", it triggers my brain into this subject, since you can't kill something if it's not alive ;) Somewhat related, I also like the concept of the "Viruses of the Mind" [1], which makes an analogy between the spreading of a biol…

If you can kill a process, or a proposal I don't see why you shouldn't be able to kill a virus -- alive or not!

Process reproduce (through forking) metabolize (stdin->stdout) and maintain homeostasis (garbage collection). How could they not be alive?

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#14

Post by redindian75 »

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe.

Maybe Virus is akin to a SEED. Seeds are inert/dead by themselves, but it carries as all the code/DNA/instructions needed to spring to life, flourish & even reproduce infinitely when put in an friendly environment (nourished soil with water, O2 etc)

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#15

Post by throwanem »

gowld wrote: post #11
saagarjha wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can certainly deactivate things that aren't alive, though.

Is a virus active? It can be considered a toxin that a cell reacts to by creating more of the toxin.

I might call it more of a reified meme.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#16

Post by hpoe »

koheripbal wrote: post #4
lawrenceyan wrote: post #3

In the case of the coronavirus, we see a significant binding affinity to the ACE2 membrane protein, which explains why the infection targets the lungs and guts so readily.

And also why common blood pressure medications which block that same receptor are (probably) and good anti-viral for them. Losartan is currently in clinical trials for this new usage.

My Dr. said that preliminary results indicate that blood pressure medications, generally increase your risk with the COVID-19, as well as Ibuprofen.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#17

Post by epistasis »

boring_twenties wrote: post #9
tcgv wrote: post #5

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe. I remember 20 year ago, at school, when the biology teacher was presenting this dilemma. Ever since, when I hear someone saying "doing this will kill the virus", it triggers my brain into this subject, since you can't kill something if it's not alive ;) Somewhat related, I also like the concept of the "Viruses of the Mind" [1], which makes an analogy between the spreading of a biol…

If you can kill a process, or a proposal I don't see why you shouldn't be able to kill a virus -- alive or not!

Processes also have a zombie state, where they are neither living nor dead.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#18

Post by heurifk »

redindian75 wrote: post #14

> Is a virus a living thing? Maybe. Maybe Virus is akin to a SEED. Seeds are inert/dead by themselves, but it carries as all the code/DNA/instructions needed to spring to life, flourish & even reproduce infinitely when put in an friendly environment (nourished soil with water, O2 etc)

A seed is way more alive than a virus. It only needs very simple things.

Re: What's a virus, anyway? The bare-bones basics

#19

Post by jschwartzi »

hpoe wrote: post #16
koheripbal wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And also why common blood pressure medications which block that same receptor are (probably) and good anti-viral for them. Losartan is currently in clinical trials for this new usage.

My Dr. said that preliminary results indicate that blood pressure medications, generally increase your risk with the COVID-19, as well as Ibuprofen.

Is this based on basic research or demographic analysis? Has the research ruled out the possibility that people who are being treated for high blood pressure are more likely to be older and in poorer shape? Because that's a pretty strong confounding effect unless the research in question is a randomized controlled trial.

I've also heard conflicting reports about Ibuprofen. I don't think anyone knows for sure.

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