In article <rrg.1018.000CB9E9 at aber.ac.uk>, rrg at aber.ac.uk says...
>>In article <anh-2401950740200001 at mac-burl-11.dfci.harvard.edu>
anh at macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu (Anh Nguyen) writes:
>>>I agree with you Mark. I would argue that the "purpose" of viruses, as
>>with all living organisms,is to propagate their genetic material. Viruses
>>are just a little more aggressive in their pursuit of this goal.
>>Yes another agrees. The aggressiveness can be really very high, Ebola
Zaire
>for example kills 9 out of 10 human hosts in <14 days. I'd speculated
that,
But you are implying here that Ebola Zaire's preferred host is humans.
I don't think this is a valid assumption. A virus can be 100% lethal
in one species and still be propagated if it can hide out in another
host.
>for the virus, this is not too good an idea as if you want to spread your
>genetic material if your are too pathogenic then you eventually loose your
>host. Whereas AIDS although equally agressive allows the host to live thus
>allowing its (somewhat rapid) propagation.
>>Roy
>>Dr Roy Goodacre E-mail: rrg at aber.ac.uk>FTP: 144.124.112.36 Voice: +44 970 623111 ext 4187 (work)
>Fax: +44 970 622354 +44 974 241236 (home)
>URL: http://gepasi.dbs.aber.ac.uk/roy/chemom.htm>Snail: Inst Biol Sci, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, UK
>
--
Donald A. Lehn, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-7668
Medical Sciences Center / 3415 Fax: (608) 262-9300
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<<<<<<< No, I'm not a real doctor -- I just teach 'em! >>>>>>>
