In article <4d16ch$fkv at axe.netdoor.com>,
Harry Boswell <hboswell at netdoor.com> wrote:
>>oversimplified). If so, what happens to the original cell? Is it still
>the original cell type? Has it itself become a viral cell? Or with it's
>now-altered DNA, is it something else entirely?
>>Or, do I have this all wrong?
You have it wrong. One of the byproducts of AIDS is that everyone thinks
that retroviruses are typical viruses, whereas they're unique. Most
viruses don't insert their nucleic acid into the cell's. Further, in the
vast majority of cases, the infected cell is rapidly killed by the viral
infection, so your question is moot. Finally, even taking your question
at face value (i.e. accepting all the assumptions) the question is not
biological, but semantic.
Ian
--
Ian York (iayork at panix.com)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston MA 02115
Phone (617)-632-3921 Fax (617)-632-2627
