Whatcha doing right now?

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by Zach

Covid is a virus. All viruses are living. Covid hijacks cells to reproduce itself.

That’s what I tried to tell her.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Zach

Covid is a virus. All viruses are living. Covid hijacks cells to reproduce itself.

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

That’s what I tried to tell her.

Yes, they manipulate cells, but I wouldn’t call them living organisms.

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Yes, they manipulate cells, but I wouldn’t call them living organisms.

They gotta be living in order to do that, CG.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Yes, they manipulate cells, but I wouldn’t call them living organisms.

They do call some vaccines "live virus" vaccines though. I can't take those because I'm immunocompromised. The original shingles vaccine was that. The newer one is not.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

They gotta be living in order to do that, CG.

Originally Posted by AGDee

They do call some vaccines "live virus" vaccines though. I can't take those because I'm immunocompromised. The original shingles vaccine was that. The newer one is not.

Yes, but because virus particles lack movement, they also lack the ability to generate energy or manufacture proteins independently, so they’re not generally regarded as living organisms. But they are still pieces of genetic material that parasitize cells internal machinery to reproduce themselves. But that’s it.

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Yes, but because virus particles lack movement, they also lack the ability to generate energy or manufacture proteins independently, so they’re not generally regarded as living organisms. But they are still pieces of genetic material that parasitize cells internal machinery to reproduce themselves. But that’s it.

Then where’d they come from? They had to have come from somewhere?

[Phrozen Sands]

I was curious so I looked it up. This is wild. CG, you’re right. Wow!
https://youtu.be/IQqgNny8OGg?si=ODNSxz8PiQ_uVFGg

[Phrozen Sands]

I found this too, while trying to make a failed attempt to prove CG wrong Lol.
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-pre...-dead-or-alive

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

Then where’d they come from? They had to have come from somewhere?

Good question. I have no idea, Phrozen. I only can guess based on theories I do know about. Other than that, I don’t know.

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

I was curious so I looked it up. This is wild. CG, you’re right. Wow!
https://youtu.be/IQqgNny8OGg?si=ODNSxz8PiQ_uVFGg

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

I found this too, while trying to make a failed attempt to prove CG wrong Lol.
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-pre...-dead-or-alive

lol
Hilarious! Why were you up so late/early looking for virus information?

Yes! I love that comparison to Star Trek’s Data and the Terminator. Perfect comparison and great article.

I know two veterinarians that disagree with me though, lol. One was a mentor of mine who I really like and respect dearly. But when I was doing my rotations, he told me they are living, so for the longest time I believed him. But me being me, I researched it myself and since then, I disagree with him. And a new guy we just hired disagrees with me too. There’s four vets including me, and he’s the only guy out of the four of us and the only one who thinks differently. Maybe it’s a guy thing lol.

He and I have friendly debates about viruses every now and then. He thinks they’re living organisms similar to parasites, just not as complex. I disagree with him because cells of free-living organisms, including bacteria, contain a variety of organelles essential for life such as ribosomes that manufacture proteins, mitochondria or other structures that generate energy and complex membranes for transporting molecules within the cell, across the cell wall. Viruses not being cells, have none of these and they can’t move or reproduce until they infect a living cell. Once inside, they take over the cell’s organelles and use what they need to complete the virus cycle, often killing the cell in the process. Viruses can’t even grow. Parasites can and do grow. But I think it’s more like the “Is Pluto a planet or a dwarf planet/celestial body?” kind of thing.

[cheerfulgreek]

Watching the game.

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

lol
Hilarious! Why were you up so late/early looking for virus information?

Yes! I love that comparison to Star Trek’s Data and the Terminator. Perfect comparison and great article.

I know two veterinarians that disagree with me though, lol. One was a mentor of mine who I really like and respect dearly. But when I was doing my rotations, he told me they are living, so for the longest time I believed him. But me being me, I researched it myself and since then, I disagree with him. And a new guy we just hired disagrees with me too. There’s four vets including me, and he’s the only guy out of the four of us and the only one who thinks differently. Maybe it’s a guy thing lol.

He and I have friendly debates about viruses every now and then. He thinks they’re living organisms similar to parasites, just not as complex. I disagree with him because cells of free-living organisms, including bacteria, contain a variety of organelles essential for life such as ribosomes that manufacture proteins, mitochondria or other structures that generate energy and complex membranes for transporting molecules within the cell, across the cell wall. Viruses not being cells, have none of these and they can’t move or reproduce until they infect a living cell. Once inside, they take over the cell’s organelles and use what they need to complete the virus cycle, often killing the cell in the process. Viruses can’t even grow. Parasites can and do grow. But I think it’s more like the “Is Pluto a planet or a dwarf planet/celestial body?” kind of thing.

Because I was trying to find something that supported my argument. I found a few things on YouTube but none that sounded credible. I stand corrected.

[AlwaysSAI]

I got home from work about 90min ago. It's my Friday after 9 consecutive days of work... and tomorrow is my first full day off since Oct. 15. I'm having midnight wine to celebrate and then I'm crawling in bed and snuggling up to DH.