nanotechnology

[fringe]

is it possible that a virus can be or is nanotechnology. its not alive as its just a RNA and protein coating and very simple relative to other organisms, so it seems it would be the simpliest to naturally occur in nature. but the virus stands alone in the tree of evolution, its the odd ball so to say.

 

[chimpkin]

Ockham's razor says not likely... Seems like we could make nanotech viruses hypothetically. Do we want to make something that potentially dangerous?

 

[Search & Destroy]

Do we want to make something that potentially dangerous?

We don't, but someone does.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

is it possible that a virus can be or is nanotechnology.

What do you mean? Are you asking if viruses are an example of “natural” nanotechnology? Or are you asking if viruses are nano-scale man-made synthetic entities?

I guess you could answer yes to the former. The answer to the latter is obviously no. Whilst at least one virus (polio) has been synthetic reproduced in the lab, clearly the vast number and diversity of viruses that exist in nature is well beyond the capability of man to create.

Viruses vary considerably in size. The largest might not be considered nanotechnology of any sort. eg. ebola is (IIRC) almost a micron in size, whereas rhinovirus is only ~20 nanometres, 50x smaller.

its not alive as its just a RNA and protein coating and very simple relative to other organisms,

Or DNA.

so it seems it would be the simpliest to naturally occur in nature.

The simplest what? If you mean the simplest infective entity then it’s fair to say the prions take that prize. Prions are merely a protein.

but the virus stands alone in the tree of evolution, its the odd ball so to say.

Agreed!