Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!dptcdc!tmsoft!masnet!f428.n250.z1.fidonet.org!david.dmytryshyn
From: david.dmytryshyn@f428.n250.z1.fidonet.org (david dmytryshyn)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: viruses, computer & bio
Message-ID: <89080107315265@masnet.uucp>
Date: 31 Jul 89 01:09:00 GMT
Organization: Fidonet node 1:250/428
Lines: 64


 > encodes a single protein that acts as a transposase AND is used
 > to assist in splicing out the intron.  And, the phage T4 introns are
 > self-splicing and (in at least two cases) transposable.  So they are
 > parasites of parasites.  So, as I asked above, why draw the line at
 > viruses?  Why not include viroids and virusoids and transposons and even
 > non-transposable introns--since they probably started as transposable
 > ones.
 > Anyway, so where do others think the line should be on parasites?


So, if we make the world the host, humans are parasites.  It would seem that 
this is a good analogy.  We can't live or reproduce without our "host", and we 
certainly are living off of it, no, wait, that would make us a virus.  The 
problem here is we're not doing this very symbiotically, parasite doesn't 
necessarily imply pathogenic.  So, I'm a parasitic virus. (funny, I don't feel 
or look like one)  Or was that a pathogenic parasite, or a pathogenic parasitic 
virus?  (I'll do what I do on multiple choice tests, [E] All of the above) 


I think that's as far as you can take parasitism!  (smug human thinking he is 
the ultimate form of life in the galaxy)


But then again, we have evolved somewhat, and we might be able to start some 
sort of a symbiotic relationship with earth here, our track record doesn't 
seem too encouraging though...


 > The simplest way of replicating (using host proteins) is practiced by
 > transposons.  These could be considered molecular parasites.


Strange that you mention transposons, I was just reading about them
today...  The book refers to them as the "Jumping Genes".  (wonder if
they make Mexican ones)



       I think my computers are parasites, they eat up alot of my time,
       but wait, the computer is not deriving any benefit, perhaps it is
       myself who is the parasite.  Wait a second, I just called myself
       a parasite, a self-inflicted wound, I'm being parasitic on myself,
       yeah, that's it, like mental illness, it's self-parsitic, you eat
       away at yourself until you're just a fraction of what you once
       were, but wait, do you derive any benefit from eating away at your
       sanity, sure, it perpetuates the insanity!  So it, mental illness
       feeds upon itself, or does it?  Does insanity perpetuate insanity
       Your turn, go perpetuate the insanity...



David.


What was the original question???


Wandering through life as if it was a game of waterpolo and my horse just 
drowned...  (I'm also doing a B.SC at the University of Toronto, but that 
seems so un-important right now.. :)    )

--- FD 2.00
 * Origin: Synaptic Communications (1:250/428)