A super bug is a bug that resistant to multiple antibiotics. It isn't harder for the body to destroy them on its own, its harder for us to destroy using medicines.
Yeah, it seems like it's application could only be to help a patient buy some time by removing viruses from the bloodstream. As you point out, it will have trouble being as specific as anti-bodies are and could end up having some serious side-effects for the patient.
I can't see there being many cases where this technology would be useful to apply. And presumably you'd need the sponges pre-made for each type of virus.
Personally, I don't see wide-spread adoption of this technology. Though presumably Dr. House will receive a patient who'll end up needing it.
I know most people don't RTFA, but at least make sure you understand the synopsis before you start posting. The technology FILTERS BLOOD. You could spray it on poppy fields if you like, but you'd wouldn't achieve what you suggest. I'm not sure that anything can.
Actually, 'Junk DNA' is useful, as it seperates and spaces genes, and gene-complexes. The further apart genes are on a chromosome, the more likely they are to recombine, or re-mix, in a different combination. (Each gene comes as a pair, one on each of the two copies of each chromosome, and sometimes the gene-pairs aren't exactly alike.) Sometimes it isn't a just new gene that is having a novel effect, but the other genes it finds itself with.
Also, since chromosomes recombine, if the recombination occurs in 'Junk DNA' (DNA that doesn't code for a gene), then that means the gene itself is safe from being changed in a potentially negative way, whilst still remaining 'mobile' within the chromosome/s.
It's ironic that you say suggest that this research should be dumped over things that have a higher priority, like an alternative fuel for cars, because you actually took the time to read this article and then post a comment.
Surely you could have been doing something more worthwhile yourself...?
"...The majority of people in general are idiots. Why then can't the majority of people using the internet also be idiots?"
I totally agree with you. For my money, I'd reckon an IQ of about 110-120 is where things start to get interesting. And since an IQ of 100 is an average intelligence, that does sorta make most people idiots. Okay, I know you'll get the occasional savant - but they are the exception that proves the rule.
Also, think about how stupid the average person is.. pretty dumb, right? Well, half of the population are even more stupid!
The main problem is that a lot of people share that belief, and it is pretty hard to dissuade them of this. Some people seem to think (and actually spout it as god-given truth) that "It doesn't matter who you voted for, you should support the President". Which is self-evidently ridiculous.
I think it's funny that some people believe that the President to be infallible. Even when the most famous 'infallible' entity in the world (the Pope) was once a woman (my mistake). Infact, the previous Pope even said that "Evolution is not theory, it's fact" (i'm paraphrasing here).
You would be really hard pressed to explain why an intelligent omnipotent being would have made all the design mistakes that we carry with. For example why would an intelligent designer give us an appendix that frequently threatens to kill us.
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You can reply as AC and still have your mod points as long as you clear your logs/cookies/something or other before you do so.
I think.
A super bug is a bug that resistant to multiple antibiotics. It isn't harder for the body to destroy them on its own, its harder for us to destroy using medicines.
Yeah, it seems like it's application could only be to help a patient buy some time by removing viruses from the bloodstream. As you point out, it will have trouble being as specific as anti-bodies are and could end up having some serious side-effects for the patient.
I can't see there being many cases where this technology would be useful to apply. And presumably you'd need the sponges pre-made for each type of virus.
Personally, I don't see wide-spread adoption of this technology. Though presumably Dr. House will receive a patient who'll end up needing it.
I know most people don't RTFA, but at least make sure you understand the synopsis before you start posting. The technology FILTERS BLOOD. You could spray it on poppy fields if you like, but you'd wouldn't achieve what you suggest. I'm not sure that anything can.
Fucking moron.
Well, that was a completely pointless thing to post. Just like a post that reads "Well, that's your opinion".
Actually, 'Junk DNA' is useful, as it seperates and spaces genes, and gene-complexes. The further apart genes are on a chromosome, the more likely they are to recombine, or re-mix, in a different combination. (Each gene comes as a pair, one on each of the two copies of each chromosome, and sometimes the gene-pairs aren't exactly alike.) Sometimes it isn't a just new gene that is having a novel effect, but the other genes it finds itself with.
Also, since chromosomes recombine, if the recombination occurs in 'Junk DNA' (DNA that doesn't code for a gene), then that means the gene itself is safe from being changed in a potentially negative way, whilst still remaining 'mobile' within the chromosome/s.
They're just causing enough damage to lead to cell death, it's not complete annihilation of the tumour.
Almost ironically (perhaps intentional?), your sig uses the wrong 'your'.
...except a kilogram of cheese
It's ironic that you say suggest that this research should be dumped over things that have a higher priority, like an alternative fuel for cars, because you actually took the time to read this article and then post a comment.
Surely you could have been doing something more worthwhile yourself...?
I trust Channel 4 News (UK) - http://www.channel4.co.uk/news.
We drive on both sides of the road. :P
I think there might be a typo in your sig.
Mainly because the sentence in in the singular...
...but he said (and you quoted) that they are not in pursuit.
...it could be a mohawk?
Actually, it's now the early 21st century.
I think the implication was that "And how much of your soul will you have to sign away in order to use this?" was her two cents [worth of opinion].
...one step away from amateur eugenics.
I totally agree with you. For my money, I'd reckon an IQ of about 110-120 is where things start to get interesting. And since an IQ of 100 is an average intelligence, that does sorta make most people idiots. Okay, I know you'll get the occasional savant - but they are the exception that proves the rule.
Also, think about how stupid the average person is.. pretty dumb, right? Well, half of the population are even more stupid!
The main problem is that a lot of people share that belief, and it is pretty hard to dissuade them of this. Some people seem to think (and actually spout it as god-given truth) that "It doesn't matter who you voted for, you should support the President". Which is self-evidently ridiculous.
I think it's funny that some people believe that the President to be infallible. Even when the most famous 'infallible' entity in the world (the Pope) was once a woman (my mistake). Infact, the previous Pope even said that "Evolution is not theory, it's fact" (i'm paraphrasing here).
oh yeah. my apologies.
unless they are being sarcastic. which is how i read it...
This is called serendipity. Another fine example is the recurrent laryngeal nerve http://www.boingboing.net/2005/02/20/intelligent_d esigns_.html.