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Viruses Infected By Viruses

Posted by samzenpus on from the hoist-with-its-own-petard dept.

SpaceAdmiral writes "Scientists have discovered a virus that can infect another virus. The fact that viruses can essentially get sick may change the debate over whether they are alive or not. Check out Nature for a slightly more technical article about the 'virophage.'"

3 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Re:this dichotomy is ludicrous by arth1 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    saying something is "alive" or "not alive" holds about as much weight as saying it's a "froodle doo"

    The way I see it, life (and "awareness" too, for that matter) is a degree, not a binary. Higher life forms are more alive than bacteria, which in turn are more alive than viruses, which are more alive than iron oxide.
    Why try to make a definition that neatly divides things into alive and not? What philosophical interest does it have? Reinforcing religion, perhaps?

  2. Re:reproduction by x2A · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "So now explain what you mean by "preproduce""

    Awww, can your brain really not figure out what I obviously meant there? Feel sorry for ya dude.

    --
    The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
  3. Re:this dichotomy is ludicrous by arth1 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Yeah, but judging some lifeforms as higher than a bacterium isn't that hard, and that was the comparison that was used in the post you replied to. Not higher as in higher, overall.