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Gene Mutation Caused 2009 H1N1 Virus Spread

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-blame-darwin dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers have found that a gene mutation was the reason behind the increased virulence of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus which resulted in a pandemic across the world. 'The H1N1 virus, Kawaoka explains, is really a combination of four different avian and swine flu viruses that have emerged over the past 90 years, and even includes genetic residue of the 1918 pandemic virus, an influenza that killed as many as 20 million people.' The University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine researchers identified the relocation of a specific amino acid in the gene matrix that enabled the virus to hijack host cells, a feat that triggered the recent pandemic." The World Health Organization's director general said H1N1 is likely to lose its status as a pandemic very soon.

4 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. How come viruses get all the cool mutations? by Spazntwich · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, can I get a single nucleotide polymorphism that enables limb regeneration?

    No, I get a weird catecholamine oxidizer that makes me more likely to kill people.

  2. Government Genetic Gene Mutation Caused H1N1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    FTFY

    Simply put, H1N1 was fine tuned by the government in a lab. The H1N1 was a completely engineered 'pandemic' from top to bottom, in order to get a brainless populace to take a vaccine that will damage their DNA.

  3. That SOB! by El_Smack · · Score: 2, Funny

    Holy Cow! I work with Gene. I never thought he was capable of something like this.

    Just goes to show you never really know someone.

    --


    There are 01 kinds of cars in the world. The General Lee, and everything else.
  4. Re:Still here? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are you by any chance selling tiger-repellent rocks?