You said viruses are alive. Therefore they are alive whether they reside in a computer or in a biological organism. In both cases they are merely coding (whether genetic or computer) - it's only when they are in the right environment that they can reproduce.
Corona Virus 2019-nCoV
- Thread starter Quantum Quack
- Start date
Write4U
Valued Senior Member
OK, let's put it this way. To a computer a computer virus is as alive as the corona virus is to humans.....
I see a virus as a biological entity which has found a way to survive and procreate, whereas a computer virus is not biological, just as a computer is not (yet) biological and capable of acquiring it's own source of energy and procreate.
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Write4U
Valued Senior Member
As to ability for duplication, if I understand this correctly, this may suggest that viruses are indeed able to duplicate their own genomes. They just need a living host, which makes it a true parasite;
Classes 4 & 5: Single-stranded RNA viruses[edit]
Replication cycle of a coronavirus (class 4)
p.s. Guess which old friends makes an appearance.
Figure 1
Structure and organisation of microtubules. (A) Microtubule filaments are comprised of multiple dimeric complexes of α- and β-tubulin, assembled around a hollow core. Thirteen protofilaments assemble to form a microtubule. Microtubules are anchored at their minus ends at MTOCs, which is mediated by γ-tubulin. (B) Microtubules form dynamic networks in the cytoplasm which are stably anchored at MTOCs, including the centrosome and Golgi apparatus. Three-dimensional structural data: PDB ID tubulin dimer (1TUB).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020094/#
Classes 4 & 5: Single-stranded RNA viruses[edit]
Replication cycle of a coronavirus (class 4)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_replication#/media/File:Coronavirus_replication.png
p.s. Guess which old friends makes an appearance.
Images in this article
Figure 1
Structure and organisation of microtubules. (A) Microtubule filaments are comprised of multiple dimeric complexes of α- and β-tubulin, assembled around a hollow core. Thirteen protofilaments assemble to form a microtubule. Microtubules are anchored at their minus ends at MTOCs, which is mediated by γ-tubulin. (B) Microtubules form dynamic networks in the cytoplasm which are stably anchored at MTOCs, including the centrosome and Golgi apparatus. Three-dimensional structural data: PDB ID tubulin dimer (1TUB).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020094/#
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About right. And as you said that virus is alive.
. . . that has found a way to survive and procreate. Both rely on a host to have any life at all.
Write4U
Valued Senior Member
Only in reference to biological organisms or electronic data processing organization.
True, on both accounts. They are just not physically related and if "life" is associated with biological organisms then a computer virus is not biologically alive but may be called electronically alive in a sci-fi story.
I believe the current interpretation is that viruses are an intermediate species, biologically dynamic but not fully alive. They are able to copy their RNA or DNA within the host cell, but they are not able to employ mitosis and create daughter viruses independently.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100528210736.htm#
Sounds like a parasitic life form to me....
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sculptor
Valued Senior Member
reference was to purported lockdown
Currently the USA appears to have a CFR of about 2.55%
One can only wonder what it will be once the hospital systems are over whelmed in a few days from now...
One can only wonder what it will be once the hospital systems are over whelmed in a few days from now...
01/11/2020
England in lockdown for a month.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11...-month-long-lockdown-cases-1-million/12836296
Two things:
England in lockdown for a month.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered England back into a national month-long lockdown as the United Kingdom passes 1 million COVID-19 cases and scientists warn the virus is spreading faster than their worst predictions.
The Government said total confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen 21,915 in the past day to 1,011,660, with Mr Johnson then hastily arranging a news conference in Downing Street after news of the lockdown leaked to local media.
....
"I'm under no illusions about how difficult this will be for businesses, which have already had to endure such hardship this year," Mr Johnson said.
"I'm truly, truly sorry"
The Government said total confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen 21,915 in the past day to 1,011,660, with Mr Johnson then hastily arranging a news conference in Downing Street after news of the lockdown leaked to local media.
....
"I'm under no illusions about how difficult this will be for businesses, which have already had to endure such hardship this year," Mr Johnson said.
"I'm truly, truly sorry"
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11...-month-long-lockdown-cases-1-million/12836296
Two things:
- He has no choice.
- I hope those people who thought it wise to party and enjoy a beer at the pub, etc. are happy now...freedom has a price...2nd time round is not fun at all...
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It's not over yet.....ask again in 30 days or so....
In a way the above comment is in part the answer to the question.
Most Australians have taken this pandemic seriously and are under no illusions as to what the priorities need to be. Health vs economics vs individual freedom.
Collective health vs individual health and so on....
The damage done by this pandemic is only now starting to be revealed.
I would guess with confidence that an orderly managed pandemic leads to better results than a chaotic, mismanaged one.
Even today in the EU for example many people still fail to understand just how serious things are...and will no doubt pay a heavy cost, in fatalities and longer term individual health because of it.
The sheer fact that Trump is potentially going to get re-elected speaks volumes. He shouldn't even be up for consideration but he is...
Our PM, Morrison, is only now starting to realize what a national zero case day means to international reputation and future economic prospects. Perhaps he never thought it was possible to eliminate this virus with out a vaccine, but now he does...I am sure he is silently having a celebratory beer right now..a toast to the Goddess of Good Fortune so to speak...
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Not to be left out minks are now getting into the act
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproje...ion-over-coronavirus-spread-mutation/12851638
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproje...ion-over-coronavirus-spread-mutation/12851638
we can only hope that it doesn't mutate in rats and mice...Not to be left out minks are now getting into the act
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/12851638?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA=#aoh=16045938147863&referrer=https://www.google.com&_tf=From %1$s&share=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-05/denmark-cull-mink-population-over-coronavirus-spread-mutation/12851638
LaurieAG
Registered Senior Member
or Ferrets.
09/11/2020
Update:
Melbourne, Victoria , Australia.
Today it was recorded that we had our 10th day of zero new cases and deaths.
Since the lock-down was mostly lifted, we are slowly getting back to some semblance of normality.
People are still obliged to wear masks in pubic however law enforcement has relaxed somewhat.
People are generally wearing masks in my region, voluntarily, regardless of the current law requiring them to. There is little doubt that mask wearing and social consciousness of the problem has instrumental in leading to such a great result.
We are able to enjoy most activities with only restrictions focused on the numbers of people who gather.
Preparations for long haul/term quarantine facilities have been recommended as the world seems to have lost control or the pandemic and will no doubt impact here as time progresses, especially if any covid mutation takes hold and prevents any solid attempts at vaccination.
====
Global cases has hit 50.6 million with a recorded fatality of 1.26 million.
a CFR of about 2.5%
Obviously very understated/reported.
====
Global daily fatalities are increasing rapidly as hospitals become saturated with covid patients.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Update:
Melbourne, Victoria , Australia.
Today it was recorded that we had our 10th day of zero new cases and deaths.
Since the lock-down was mostly lifted, we are slowly getting back to some semblance of normality.
People are still obliged to wear masks in pubic however law enforcement has relaxed somewhat.
People are generally wearing masks in my region, voluntarily, regardless of the current law requiring them to. There is little doubt that mask wearing and social consciousness of the problem has instrumental in leading to such a great result.
We are able to enjoy most activities with only restrictions focused on the numbers of people who gather.
Preparations for long haul/term quarantine facilities have been recommended as the world seems to have lost control or the pandemic and will no doubt impact here as time progresses, especially if any covid mutation takes hold and prevents any solid attempts at vaccination.
====
Global cases has hit 50.6 million with a recorded fatality of 1.26 million.
a CFR of about 2.5%
Obviously very understated/reported.
====
Global daily fatalities are increasing rapidly as hospitals become saturated with covid patients.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Never fear, the vaccine is here! Or so the UK newspapers have reported, and I presume those of other countries.
Stock-markets rose 4+ % on the news (it wasn't all due to Biden winning!), but they still reckon it'll take until the end of 2021 for everyone who wants a vaccination to be given one.
The current vaccine stories making the headlines suggest the most vulnerable should vaccinated within the next 6 months, though - so maybe we are just starting to see a bend in the road ahead... an indication of a corner being turned, even if the tyres aren't gripping sufficiently yet.
Stock-markets rose 4+ % on the news (it wasn't all due to Biden winning!), but they still reckon it'll take until the end of 2021 for everyone who wants a vaccination to be given one.
The current vaccine stories making the headlines suggest the most vulnerable should vaccinated within the next 6 months, though - so maybe we are just starting to see a bend in the road ahead... an indication of a corner being turned, even if the tyres aren't gripping sufficiently yet.
There was no particular reference - did you have something you wanted to say?
In the US the optimistic are suggesting the most vulnerable may be reached by a vaccine in late 2021. That is presuming the Republican Senate does not block all Federal public health initiatives, and the Republican State legislatures do not fight them in court.
But are not most (?) of those people who might block such things within the "most vulnerable" bracket? 60+ years old etc? Self-defeating to try to hamper things, surely? But then this would be politics, so nothing should surprise.
Canada has just announced their deal with Pfizer for up to 300 million doses of the vaccine they developed, each person requiring 2 doses. Most likely, they will roll it out first to the elderly and those with complications, then the front line workers and essential workers with doses reaching the general public between 6 months to a year.