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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Science Viruses Descend from Cells

Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Oct 11, 2011 at 8:20 AM

The discovery of a megavirus virus is confirmation that giant viruses descended from complex cells that became simpler.

Since the discovery of the first giant virus, mimivirus, in 2003, researchers have debated how they evolved. Unlike conventional viruses, mimivirus carries many genes thought to be unique to cellular life, suggesting that it evolved from a cell. But it could also have stolen those genes from cells that it infected.

This most simple mode of life has proved to be extremely successful. As Carl Zimmer points out in his short book A Planet of Viruses (sounds a lot like Mike Davis' Planet of Slums), viruses "out number all other residents of the ocean by about 15 to one."

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@14: "my lifelong reading of the sciences"
So you flipped through Popular Mechanics and Discover a few times, good for you. By the way, your opinion is batshittedly unsupported by evidence.

Posted by venomlash on October 12, 2011 at 10:42 AM

In my lifelong reading of the sciences, viruses (by the top cell biologists) are suspected of being the chief cause in human evolution.

Good article.

Posted by sgt_doom on October 11, 2011 at 5:45 PM

It was we humans (made of cells) who decided that only organisms with at least one cell could be considered alive. It's an arbitrary definition.

Posted by Stiny on October 11, 2011 at 2:28 PM

I can't believe Charles missed the chance to connect a discussion of cellular DNA appropriation to (and post a picture of) Parasite Eve.

Posted by Banna

on October 11, 2011 at 11:31 AM

*Some* viruses *may* descend from cells. Words have meaning, as does context.

Posted by thatsnotright on October 11, 2011 at 10:41 AM

@3 - Not merely more, but 10x as many. There may be 7 billion humans trotting around, but each one of us has about 10 trillion bacteria living in us. I think we're outnumbered.

Posted by evilvolus on October 11, 2011 at 10:13 AM

@2 hahaha, I don't think a simple definition is going to change their behavior.

Don't confuse what you think should happen with reality.

Posted by wingedkat on October 11, 2011 at 10:11 AM

Zombie cells.

Posted by Vince on October 11, 2011 at 9:59 AM

@1 - The issue hasn't been settled as far as I've heard, and if the definitions don't include the gray areas, it might mean there's a problem with the definitions.

@2 - lolwut? Nonliving things can't evolve? If you keep pulling things out of your ass like that, you're going to put Charles out of a job.

Viruses reproduce, even if only with the help of a host cell, and they have genetic code. They are subject to the forces of natural selection and genetic mutation, even if scientists can't agree whether they're technically alive or not.

Posted by MacCrocodile

on October 11, 2011 at 9:15 AM

5-- damn that was good. woot to you.

and let's not let chuck forget how he thought his genes were special, and not just a parasite grab-bag.

Posted by gottadowhatyougottado on October 11, 2011 at 9:10 AM

All the world's a 'phage.

Posted by Biologist in the stix on October 11, 2011 at 9:01 AM

I have always been suspicious of this definition. plus, did you two read the article?

Posted by Charles Mudede on October 11, 2011 at 9:00 AM

Yep, and there are more cells in your body that aren't human than cells that are. And yet, in spite of everything, there are still seven fucking billion of us.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty