Tegmark cited a perfect example of inscribing his wife's name in his wedding band where the information will last for many years, and inscribing his wife's name in a puddle of water, where the information will almost instantly disappear. I think that's elegant.
Viruses do not, however, carry out metabolic processes. Most notably, viruses differ from living organisms in that they cannot generate ATP. ... Because of these limitations, viruses can replicate only within a living host cell.
We need to understand, if virus is alive and capable to adapt and evolve itself in changed natural or manmade environments and be effective systematically or nón live liable to change chemically by such environments and be effective randomly. One sense of touch do not justify an entity is alive in biological sense because all atoms, molecules, particles etc on this earth can show some changes on touch by others.
I agree, but viruses are complex organisms when compared to purely chemical patterns. Viruses do stimulate cells to become active in duplication. They can mutate in response to antigens, and may not all be virulent as with virophages, which may actually be beneficial as a natural parasite in larger viruses, inhibiting their efficiency.
So much so, that many living organism's DNA contains latent remnants of virus DNA.
Pictured here is an astrocyte, one type of brain cell that plays a role in ALS, the degenerative disease that scientists suspect might be caused by ancient viruses in our DNA. Illustration by Kateryna Kon.
https://www.cshl.edu/the-non-human-living-inside-of-you/#
Basically that is the theory of Abiogenesis.
That is of course is completely wrong. Abiogenesis speaks only to something living emerging from complex bio-chemistry, but says nothing about speciation. That comes later, as Darwinian Evolution.
No, life begins long before fleas or maggots appeared.
Why do the nitrogenous bases pair in this specific way? The bases on each strand are joined to the bases on the other strand with hydrogen bonds, but different bases have different chemical structures. Cytosine and thymine (and uracil in RNA) are pyrimidines, containing one ring. Adenine and guanine are purines, containing two rings. The pyrimidines pair with the purines: cytosine and guanine form three hydrogen bonds, and adenine and thymine form two.[/quote]
Visible Body Biology
Interesting tidbit.
It is thought that viruses lack one of the identifiers of life and that is a cell. But that is not strictly true. The DNA of a virus itself is encased in a cellular sheath.
Difference between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells
2. Eukaryotic chromosomes are located within the nucleus, whereas prokaryotic chromosomes are located in the nucleoid.
2. Eukaryotic chromosomes are located within the nucleus, whereas prokaryotic chromosomes are located in the nucleoid.
Note the flagella and cilia already contained in Prokaryote organism, before the emergence of Eukaryotes.
https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/biology/dna-chromosomes/eukaryotic-vs-prokaryotic
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes are distinguished on the basis of their cellular characteristics. ...
The important cellular features of (a) a prokaryotic cell (a bacterium) and (b) a eukaryotic cell.
Note the flagellum and cilia as identified in the Prokaryote organism already present before the emergence of Eukaryotes..
Viruses are considered neither prokaryotes nor eukaryotes because they lack the characteristics of living things, except the ability to replicate (which they accomplish only in living cells).
General Properties of Viruses
Structure
(1. Nucleic acid -contains 3-400 genes
2. Capsid -The capsid accounts for most of the virion mass. It is the protein coat of the virus. It is a complex and highly organized entity which gives form to the virus. Subunits called protomeres aggregate to form capsomeres which in turn aggregate to form the capsid.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) -unique features
- Single and/or double stranded
- Glycosylated and/or
- Gaps present in double stranded molecule
- Circular or linear
- Bound protein molecules
- Unique purine and/or pyrimidine bases present
- Ribonucleotides present
RNA
- Single or double stranded
- Segmented or unsegmented
- Bound protein molecules
- Unique purine and/or pyrimidine bases present
3. Envelope -this is an amorphous structure composed of lipid, protein and carbohydrate which lies to the outside of the capsid. It contains a mosaic of antigens from the host and the virus. A naked virus is one without an envelope.
4. Spikes. These are glycoprotein projections which have enzymatic and/or adsorption and/or hemagglutinating activity. They arise from the envelope and are highly antigenic.)
Morphology (Symmetry)
( 1. Icosahedral -The protomeres aggregate in groups of five or six to form the capsomere. In electron micrographs, capsomeres are recognized as regularly spaced rings with a central hole. The shape and dimensions of the icosahedron depends on characteristics of its protomeres. All icosahedral capsids have 12 corners each occupied by a penton capsomere and 20 triangular faces, each containing the same number of hexon capsomeres. Icosahedral symmetry is identical to cubic symmetry.
From Jawetz, R., J.L. Melnick, and E.A. Adelberg, Review of Medical Microbiology, 16th Edition, pp. 347, Figure 27-3. Reproduced with permission.
2. Helical -The protomeres are not grouped in capsomeres, but are bound to each other so as to form a ribbon-like structure. This structure folds into a helix because the protomeres are thicker at one end than at the other. The diameter of the helical capsid is determined by characteristics of its protomeres, while its length is determined by the length of the nucleic acid it encloses.
From Jawetz, R., J.L. Melnick, and E.A. Adelberg, Review of Medical Microbiology, 16th Edition, pp. 347, Figure 27-3. Reproduced with permission.
3. Complex -e.g., that exhibited by poxvirus and rhabdovirus. This group comprises all those viruses which do not fit into either of the above two groups.
From Jawetz, R., J.L. Melnick, and E.A. Adelberg, Review of Medical Microbiology, 16th Edition, pp. 347, Figure 27-3. Reproduced with permission.)
....more; https://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/website/tritzmed/LECTS/PROPERT.HTM
That question seems pre-mature.After all Covid 19 is still an active virus.
Covid 19.
I'm sure how that works. Antibodies are white blood cells made by the host and have memories of specific viruses and bacteria.
"Activated B cells differentiate into either antibody-producing cells called plasma cells that secrete soluble antibody or memory cells that survive in the body for years afterward in order to allow the immune system to remember an antigen and respond faster upon future exposures.[4]
I think "quorum sensing " will be the ultimate solution.
Pray so, any effective therapy really come for COVID 19 by this understanding.
Well no, I really mean "confound their language". Viruses talk to each other and specifically to count if there are enough viruses around to be effective when going viral in unison. They do this via chemical language and it is proposed that by confounding the viruses' langue we can stop them from becoming viral in the first place, and no need to kill them which creates evolutionary immunity to vaccines via natural selection.
It is good thing. But what shall happen ultimately to those virus which are neither viral not got killed? Can they become virulent any time in future? Whether confounding their language or disturbing their quorum sensing will just delay the viral effects or cure from these? If delay then will it just be like latent remnants of virus. as you indicated previously?
AFAIK, viruses have an expiration date. If they are unable to communicate they'll be isolated individuals. Don't forget viruses are incredibly small. To a virus the human body is a universe. So if a virus is unable to go nova, it'll just be a bunch of inactive chemicals, maybe absorbed and/or discarded.
I can explain it, but Bonnie Bassler has a wonderful lecture with diagrams on this subject at TedTalk and got a standing ovation for her clarity and entertaining presentation, as well as her proposition that when we learn to chemically communicate in viral or bacterial words, we can render the organism mute and/or deaf , but also stimulate the beneficial bacteria to become more active when for some reason the are depleted. We already take pro-biotics to compliment our natural symbionts.
In principle it is not that complicated. As with all languages, all we need is to learn the chemical words so that we can insert a "bad' spelling along with the bacterium's own chatter and thereby confuse the other bacteria and prevent them from achieving a "quorum" which is required to trigger virulence. This way we do not kill them and thus select for resistance. We just let them die and become absorbed by our defensive mechanisms or remain dormant as deaf or mute strains. The beauty is that they never get a chance to mutate. They never become active at all!
Viruses do not, however, carry out metabolic processes. Most notably, viruses differ from living organisms in that they cannot generate ATP. ... Because of these limitations, viruses can replicate only within a living host cell.
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-origins-of-viruses-14398218/#:~:text=Viruses do not, however, carry,that they cannot generate ATP.&text=Because of these limitations, viruses,within a living host cell.
Plugged your question into Google in its entirety and got back the above
