Glow-In-The-Dark Cats Are Superior. - by The_Raven
Yakoob on 14/12/2007 at 01:05
Quote Posted by jtr7
Ah! (Whew!) Thanks! Good to know these viruses aren't contagious like influenza, rhionvirus, or (*shudder*) ebola....:sweat:
Unless, of course, they mutate :P
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
[retrovirus] is a virus that uses an enzyme to incorporate a gene or set of genes into the host cell's chromosome - effectively changing the genetic code of that host cell.
Wait, I was under the impression that's what all viruses do... what about the non-retros? Does their RNA simply act as plasmids for creating more virons instead of embedding in host DNA?
SubJeff on 14/12/2007 at 01:11
Non-retroviral DNA and RNA viruses typically use host enzymes/mechanics to replicate without integrating with host DNA. Retroviruses have reverse-transcriptase which allows them to integrate their DNA (with the use of other enzymes) into host DNA.
Zygoptera on 14/12/2007 at 01:17
Quote Posted by jtr7
What happens to this viral infection when its done its job?
It isn't a classic infection. All the stuff which makes a virus 'dangerous' is removed so that it can only infect and integrate into the host's DNA, and so that you can cram as much DNA as possible in its place. This is dangerous in itself as it can integrate inside an active, essential, gene, though it is unlikely to do so. It may retain the viral promoter sequence which means that the protein is produced constitutively (constantly), though it can use other control means. With that system the fluorescent gene (originally from a jellyfish) is usually appended to another gene whose protein you wish to examine, as it can then be detected by its fluorescent effects rather than by more complicated means. It isn't contagious because the stuff which makes it able to replicate, and typically even its capsule proteins, is removed from its genome and cannot be expressed. Its effects are permanent.
Quote:
Corollary: Is it anaerobic?
Not relevant for a virus, it isn't a 'classic' life form.
Mingan on 14/12/2007 at 01:20
What SubEff said [small]and Zygo[/small]. That and the genome contained in these experiments are not coding for mutiplication of the virus, just the gene they want to insert. So the virus is incapable of replicating itself by hijicking cells. If I'm not mistaken.
Just one thing I'm not sure of though; when the virus integrates its genome, does it shoot it all, or just one 'half' of it?
On the point of 'classic lifeform', you could expand by saying that biologists are divided on the subject 'is it alive or not'. Mostly because it can't reproduce by itself, it has to hijack cellular mechanisms to produce capside proteins and replication of RNA/DNA.
jtr7 on 14/12/2007 at 01:25
So one virus per cell, then? Or how is every cell affected? Or is there a target percentage?
SubJeff on 14/12/2007 at 01:56
Quote Posted by Mingan
Just one thing I'm not sure of though; when the virus integrates its genome, does it shoot it all, or just one 'half' of it?
I don't get what you mean by this - are you alluding to double stranded DNA?
jtr7 - you can find most of this stuff all over the web or in most biology textbooks intended for GCSE (usually taken at 15 here in the UK) upwards. But in answer to your question - no, there will be many viruses in one cell. It would be nigh on impossible to introduce a single virus as they are so small.
jtr7 on 14/12/2007 at 02:42
I sure can! But we've got a public discussion thread here, so....:)
Some of my questions, I already know the answer to.:sly:
I like to supplement my textbook knowledge accrual with forum discussion. It's like a classroom without the pressure, and its recorded and searchable.
I'm just trying to stimulate discussion, not only for myself, but others who find this thread. I'd already seen the MSN article on this, weeks ago. They used the same picture. But that article was dumbed down. This is more...uh...enlightening.
SubJeff on 14/12/2007 at 02:45
Quote Posted by jtr7
Some of my questions, I already know the answer to.:sly:
Then you're just being an idiot.
I'm out of here.
Mingan on 14/12/2007 at 03:01
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I don't get what you mean by this - are you alluding to double stranded DNA?
Yes, that. The word just wouldn't come out. I think there can be single or double stranded DNA viruses(-ii?), so I was wondering if double stranded got the whole package out.
jtr7 on 14/12/2007 at 03:04
Snarky exit.
