NERD ALERT!

[spookloops]

OMG OMG OMG, I'm so fascinated!

I've always been fascinated by how viruses work. Essentially, they are a bundle of genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside of a durable capsule that binds to a host cell, fuses or injects its genetic material into the cell, and causes the cell to begin replicating altered (viral) DNA or RNA of it's own. Some of these

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[spookloops]

Certain bacteria, parasites, and fungi also cannot reproduce themselves without a living cell, yet they are considered organisms. Ditto for some of these that lack true cellular structure or the ability to metabolise for themselves; these characteristics are all considered accepted qualifications defining an "organsim. Is a virus really all that different when the exceptions of a virus are compared to other exceptions?

Also note that I never said that prions are like viruses, only that they are somewhat similar in that they both cause physiological change to bodily tissues in highly devious ways. However as I explained, their modus operandi is completely different since we are talking about subverted genetic replication versus restructuring of proteins from alpha helixes to beta sheets with altered molecular affinities. In either case, the end result is altered properties and function of affected tissues. I also pointed out explicitly that prions lack genetic material.

I find both incredibly fascinating. After all, here we have these deliciously devious entities that are not even considered "true" organisms, and yet they operate with more complexity, precision, grace, and artful warfare than most humans, considered the highest of the organisms (though most have probably determined by now that I feel that designation is quite dubious).

[insane_pencil]

That is not true of bacteria, parasites of fungi. They themselves contain, or are, living cells. Viruses are just DNA or RNA in a protein sheath.

A mosquito may need blood to reproduce, but if it is injured, it can make more cells to heal itself. A virus can't repair itself.

Viruses are little more than swimming hypodermics. Prions even less than that. Oh, the clever boulder that rolls down the hill and crushes the car!

[spookloops]

Certain bacteria and fungi barely qualify as living things.
Some of these prokaryotes cannot metabolise on their own, nor replicate on their own, lacking organelles that make these possible and completing these functions utilising their outer membranes, but only with the aid of a suitable environment such as a host cell. These simple bacteria are nothing more than encapsulated cytoplasm that may contain a small amount of genetic material floating around. Hmmm... sound familiar? Yet these are considered organisms.

Unicellular yeasts, while being more complex than some of those simple bacterias, are still pretty helpless on their own for similar reasons - despite being eukaryotic and having organelles, many still can't reproduce or metabolise on their own.

Granted, I am on thin ice here in questioning simple fungi as organisms, but I still maintain that these types of fungus and bacteria stretch the concept of "organism", and that I feel a virus does the same. I never claimed that prions even approached that boat.

Using a mosquito as an example is a bit like comparing cherries to cherry pie, but most of the above mentioned "organisms" can't heal themselves either.

All in all, this stuff is still amazing for simple constructs arising from primordial soup and a grand display of Universal craftiness humans sometimes are oblivious to, working in ways much more complex than "rolling boulder smash".

Funny how an original post of "These things are cool!" became "These things are not organisms!". I still revel in the coolness of it all, though I am enjoying the debate.

[insane_pencil]

"Using a mosquito as an example is a bit like comparing cherries to cherry pie, but most of the above mentioned "organisms" can't heal themselves either."

You're comparing and EXAMPLE to a COMPARISION?!

I'm done!

[spookloops]

Bwhahah! And at last the dead horse finds rest!