The author decsribes an orgasim as a “biological machine” and once enough cells within this organism begin to die the entire organism begins to fail. This is when the disorder begins, these cells can not be brought back to life after they have died. This means once the organism has lost enough cells it will and will not be able to be revived. However, viruses do not die like somatic cells. Viruses make up a disease the way people make up the earth, they are individual but can be grouped collectively, so when a virus “dies” it does not harm a larger community. Viruses can go dormant for long periods of time. this means when they do not have the materials necessary to survive they just shut down without multiplying or infecting other living systems. This works almost like a light switch. When a virus is left without a living system it “dies”, then when it comes in contact with a living system it “revives” and multiplies allowing it to amplify within this living system and then spread to other organisms. The virus in the monkey’s cells was dormant because the monkey cells were dead. However, if the virus were to come in contact with a living system they could amplify. Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
To add on to Sophia’s idea of the “biological machine,” somatic cells seem to be compared to a society where many are killed and lead to a domino effect that destroys the entire body. Viruses are seen as the exception - this idea of being able to turn off and turn back on again ties in with the debate on whether viruses are alive or not. Preston brings up this idea once he states viruses are exempt to this kind of disorder: “they can turn off and go dead” (Preston 255). Viruses are not truly dead, but are not truly alive either. They seem to only multiple when the time seems right; if there is not host they’ll act dead and wait, if there there is a different species host, they’ll evolve quickly in order to pass on their genes. In terms of being able to adapt and so forth, viruses are alive. However, it’s not incorrect either to say they aren’t; they are not truly alive compared to other organisms.
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone (p. 422). New York City, New York: Anchor Books.
The author decsribes an orgasim as a “biological machine” and once enough cells within this organism begin to die the entire organism begins to fail. This is when the disorder begins, these cells can not be brought back to life after they have died. This means once the organism has lost enough cells it will and will not be able to be revived. However, viruses do not die like somatic cells. Viruses make up a disease the way people make up the earth, they are individual but can be grouped collectively, so when a virus “dies” it does not harm a larger community. Viruses can go dormant for long periods of time. this means when they do not have the materials necessary to survive they just shut down without multiplying or infecting other living systems. This works almost like a light switch. When a virus is left without a living system it “dies”, then when it comes in contact with a living system it “revives” and multiplies allowing it to amplify within this living system and then spread to other organisms. The virus in the monkey’s cells was dormant because the monkey cells were dead. However, if the virus were to come in contact with a living system they could amplify.
ReplyDeletePreston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York: Random House.
To add on to Sophia’s idea of the “biological machine,” somatic cells seem to be compared to a society where many are killed and lead to a domino effect that destroys the entire body. Viruses are seen as the exception - this idea of being able to turn off and turn back on again ties in with the debate on whether viruses are alive or not. Preston brings up this idea once he states viruses are exempt to this kind of disorder: “they can turn off and go dead” (Preston 255). Viruses are not truly dead, but are not truly alive either. They seem to only multiple when the time seems right; if there is not host they’ll act dead and wait, if there there is a different species host, they’ll evolve quickly in order to pass on their genes. In terms of being able to adapt and so forth, viruses are alive. However, it’s not incorrect either to say they aren’t; they are not truly alive compared to other organisms.
DeletePreston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone (p. 422). New York City, New York: Anchor Books.