Viruses Can Change Human Genetic Code

The news:

Giant Marine Virus Found
…these viruses, which appear to obtain much of their large genomes from their hosts and other microorganisms, may be more commonplace than scientists once believed.

… Not only can viruses take up genetic material from their hosts and other organisms, but they can donate genes, as well

The central point:

… Not only can viruses take up genetic material from their hosts and other organisms, but they can donate genes, as well…

Think about it.

Viruses can change our genetic code.

Not a surprise, really. Genetic engineers have been using viruses as vehicles to get inside DNA and manipulate genes (alter genetic codes) for years - they just copied nature.

But how does it play outside the lab, in the natural world?

Simple. Altered chemicals and proteins, even altered proportions, lead to mutated viruses and bacteria, which go on to change complex organisms like humans. By changing our genetic code. …We're all connected.

…We fundamentally changed the biological basis of our world - changed the essence of life on our planet - with everything from our industrial processes to our genetic tinkering.

I'm not so sure "genetic engineering" can be controlled inside the lab - but for sure, it's all out of control in the real world.

Here are a few tidbits from some of my related past posts.

From 2005:

My theory is that bird flu, antibiotic resistant bacteria, other Super Bugs, and prion diseases constitute evidence of a rapidly escalating process of evolutionary change that is forcing human adaptation. Also, "disease" is integral to the evolutionary process - the vehicle, if you will.

We are one with our planet in a very real way, from the atomic level on up. We contain the bits and parts of everything that exists around us – including elements, chemicals, proteins, microbes. And we have created new elements, chemicals, proteins, microbes to be part of our world. Now, whether we like it or not, they are part of us. “Disease” is the pain of assimilation, adaptation, and evolution. Nothing more, or less.

…I have come to conclude that it is a pointless mistake to focus on finding “cures” and “treatments.” It’s simply too late. The horse got out of the barn long, long ago. Modern industry changed the world – completely – at the chemical and biological level. We now are adapting to the changes, along with all the other life on earth. It really is too late to turn back the clock.

Instead of trying to stop time with new “cures,” we need to look at finding ways to ease our evolutionary transitions, and respect our own processes of adaptation.

My main concern is that “sick” people will be written off by society, and subjected to passive or active euthanasia. That would be a very big mistake, because even the science has changed. The new rules are different. And we really do NOT know exactly which mutations or what “disease” will enable the survival of the human species, in the end.

From 2006:

Electropollution and chemical contaminations have altered the structure and composition of the organic molecules that circulate in this planet's ecosphere. Much research describes these altered molecules' impact on non-living systems like the earth's carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen cycles - but the science is being buried by the "global warming debate." Similarly, the research investigating the effects of altered organic molecules on living cells and organisms is overshadowed and obscured by the so-called evolution/intelligent design "debates" that pit science against religion - another obviously orchestrated polarization designed to camouflage a real crisis.

From 2010:

…prions (infectious misfolded proteins) are now acknowledged to evolve and adapt.

Prions hitch-hike on viruses, and also on microbes like bacteria and fungi.

Mainstream medicine admits that prions are associated with 20 different brain diseases in humans and animals.

However, the evidence suggests that not only do prions cause most modern chronic and debilitating diseases, but they also underlie the current trend to accelerated evolution in microbes as well as complex living organisms.

What's most astounding about this news is the fact that it came out publicly, in the mainstream media.


Related ATS
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Also see:
Mutation, Disease and Human Evolution: What Are the Options?

Financing Pseudoscience: Intelligent Design and the Evolution "Debate"

How Could an Event in 1997 Cause a Pandemic in 2009? What Happened?


[Also posted in Breaking News forum.]

Amazing thread, loads to consider. I wanted to share with you an article I found a few minutes ago.

"Exposure to Seasonal Flu Weakened Armor Against H1N1"

I found some of the theories plausible in this report and yet what made me think of you was this:

In light of the findings, Scheuermann cautions against attempts to develop universal vaccines that work against different strains of flu viruses year after year, because they could generate destructive antibodies. Instead, the results may prompt doctors to treat middle-aged flu patients with drugs that inhibit the formation of antibody-pathogen complexes, he says, adding, "Now that we have an understanding of the mechanism of severe disease, we'll be in a much better position to treat infected people and prevent them from dying."

www.scientificamerican.com...

PS, I got a stay of execution on my DSL and phone, well until December 20th...

It's not discussed much since we "all know" that obesity is caused by weak willpower, but there has been research into a viral cause. This is from 2007, but there have been some follow up articles identifying a specific virus.

www.medicalnewstoday.com...

Scientists at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts this week presented the results of a study that suggests a common virus could be partly responsible for the obesity epidemic that is sweeping across America and other nations. They hope their findings will develop antiviral medication to treat "viral obesity".

www.webmd.com...

Their research strongly links a common human virus -- adenovirus-36 or Ad-36 -- to human obesity.

I've been wondering for quite a while if the epidemic we've seen in autism spectrum disorder cases could be virus based.

Originally posted by antar
Amazing thread, loads to consider. I wanted to share with you an article I found a few minutes ago.

"Exposure to Seasonal Flu Weakened Armor Against H1N1"

I found some of the theories plausible in this report and yet what made me think of you was this:

In light of the findings, Scheuermann cautions against attempts to develop universal vaccines that work against different strains of flu viruses year after year, because they could generate destructive antibodies. Instead, the results may prompt doctors to treat middle-aged flu patients with drugs that inhibit the formation of antibody-pathogen complexes, he says, adding, "Now that we have an understanding of the mechanism of severe disease, we'll be in a much better position to treat infected people and prevent them from dying."

www.scientificamerican.com...

PS, I got a stay of execution on my DSL and phone, well until December 20th...

EXCELLENT quote - thank you.

Originally posted by Mountainmeg
It's not discussed much since we "all know" that obesity is caused by weak willpower, but there has been research into a viral cause. This is from 2007, but there have been some follow up articles identifying a specific virus.

www.medicalnewstoday.com...

Scientists at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts this week presented the results of a study that suggests a common virus could be partly responsible for the obesity epidemic that is sweeping across America and other nations. They hope their findings will develop antiviral medication to treat "viral obesity".

www.webmd.com...

Their research strongly links a common human virus -- adenovirus-36 or Ad-36 -- to human obesity.

Thank you.

and fyi - Some of my older posts showed research linking 7 or 9 different viruses or microbes to obesity. ...One of the reasons the "Cheeseburger Bill" was pushed through - FDA regs hadn't been updated in decades, none of the new bugs were covered - and the legislation was used to block the inclusion of any such new viruses and microbes, and thus, prevent (looming) liability charges....

Nifty huh?

I've been wondering for quite a while if the epidemic we've seen in autism spectrum disorder cases could be virus based.

Most likely an infectious component, but multifactorial. [Meaning several factors need to be present before the disease/condition manifests.]

...The research is rolling in on all the (chronic, debilitating) so-called "diseases of civilization" that have now spread round the world - probably in food, medicines and vaccines - showing infectious components.

reply to post by soficrow


ok ok i k now this is going to sound crazy as hell, but i was just wondering, does this have anything to do with vampires? who knows if vampires are real, i don't know, but we've all heard myths concerning being bitten, surviving, and thereafter turning into a vampire... not sure if that is the 'proper' or 'true' myth to vampires or 'becoming' a vampire but perhaps the process of becoming a vampire is the transfer of the 'vampire' gene to the person being bit, similiar to the virus in the OP transfering / altering some of it's host's genes/dna

haha hope that wasn't too over the top, i'm not a 'vampire fanatic' nor have i seen those twilight movies everyone's talking about, but for some odd ass reason this post made me ponder that idea!!!

reply to post by indigothefish


Funny how the mind works, isn't it?

Could be the myth is based on ancient knowledge and exists to carry that knowledge through the ages, OR the myth is evolving with our knowledge. ...Interesting to analyze though, if you want to put the time in.

reply to post by soficrow


This is more important than I think a lot of you realize! This has been looked at by many doctors and scientists for a long time. I have a son who has Muscular Dystrophy, it is a decease that I would not want to see anyone have to live with. There is no cure, but they are coming close. my son’s condition is caused because of the number of genetic repeats in his 19th chromosome.

The research that is being done with his illness is called “Gene Therapy” in order for there to be a “cure” every single cell in his body has to have the 19th chromosome altered. The only way that the doctors knew this could be done was threw a virus.

They have been working very hard lately to come up with the right combination, one issue that they had, was finding a virus that would be able to carry the “patch” or “fix” without causing severe damage or death to the host. Lately, scientist have been trying a new approach to the problem buy trying to create a synthetic virus that is strong enough to carry the patch to all parts of the body, including bone, and marrow, without killing the host.

So far things have been showing positive signs. They have successfully preformed the procedure on rats, and lab animals. They are now moving on to larger mammals with similar bone structures.

This is a great break threw for many people who have a genetic illness. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Originally posted by indigothefish
reply to post by soficrow

 

ok ok i k now this is going to sound crazy as hell, but i was just wondering, does this have anything to do with vampires? who knows if vampires are real, i don't know, but we've all heard myths concerning being bitten, surviving, and thereafter turning into a vampire... not sure if that is the 'proper' or 'true' myth to vampires or 'becoming' a vampire but perhaps the process of becoming a vampire is the transfer of the 'vampire' gene to the person being bit, similiar to the virus in the OP transfering / altering some of it's host's genes/dna

haha hope that wasn't too over the top, i'm not a 'vampire fanatic' nor have i seen those twilight movies everyone's talking about, but for some odd ass reason this post made me ponder that idea!!!

I had a similar though: Replace "vampire" with "zombie" and stand back. Something to look forward to I suppose.

On a more on-topic note, every day more and more diseases turn up through the active deforestation of the rainforests. Who knows what superbugs have been sprung or are waiting to be sprung, That's a scary thought.

reply to post by Mountainmeg


Man sign me up! And I wonder if this is transmitted through pregnancy to the fetus?

reply to post by this_is_who_we_are


Great thought! You are probably right on with that one, and it is also deleting any real chance of finding cures for the same and even more diseases.

I wonder how many changes are being made through comets and space particles mixing with human DNA? As we begin to find more evidence right in our own back yard who knows?

reply to post by xyankee


I would like to see them develop a bacteria which eats viruses, but instead they develop viruses which eat bacteria, the problem is that it does not discern between friendly bacteria and invasive. With all of the antibiotic resistant disease happening, using nature will be the medicine of the future.

FDA OKs bacteria-eating virus to treat meat

As people look towards living healthier lifestyles the FDA never ceases to amaze me...

WASHINGTON — A mixture of six bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on meat and poultry to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday.
The mixture of special viruses, called bacteriophages, would target strains of Listeria monocytogenes, the Food and Drug Administration said in declaring it is safe to use. The viruses are designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products just before they are packaged.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

I don’t really know what their plan is for the bacteria or anything else, but besides making you sick they function differently for example bacterial meningitis will kill you in 24hrs but viral meningitis is like getting the flue.

In my son’s case a virus is needed because unlike a bacteria a virus infiltrates a cell, and takes over. It is like a "trojan horse" so to speak and mutates the cells to serve its purpose. Bacteria will just kill.

Thanks all.

The mechanisms of infection, mutation, adaptation and evolution seem to be similar - and involve prions or mis-folded proteins. Cool stuff when you get into it.

Meant to post the following under "Breaking News" but got distracted - might as well post it here.

On November 17th, President Obama presented 10 researchers with the highest technical and scientific award given by the United States, the tNational Medal of Science.

Susan Lindquist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for showing that changes in protein folding can have profound and unexpected influences in fields as wide-ranging as human disease, evolution and nanotechnology, and for providing fundamental experimental support for the prion hypothesis. The prion hypothesis is a key scientific assertion associated with a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain and nervous system of many animals, including humans.

More on Lindquist and her work on prions and protein folding.

Background:

A prion is short-hand for proteinaceous infectious particle. Prions are infectious proteins thought to cause disease as viruses do (prions are misfolded, misshapen, proteins). The key difference between a prion and a virus is that prions lack the DNA or RNA that forms the command structure of a virus. Prions have been implicated with a number of diseases...

The prion proteins contradict a central tenet of molecular biology: that genes affect proteins, but proteins do not affect DNA.


What Are Prions?

reply to post by soficrow


Somehow I am not surprised.

I've been thinking if viruses are infact kind of "updates" to our code. Well, updates in best case, downgrades are not excluded in my opinion.

-v

reply to post by v01i0

I've been thinking if viruses are infact kind of "updates" to our code. Well, updates in best case, downgrades are not excluded in my opinion.

...You got it. The rest is mechanism and mutation aka experimentation (for lack of a better word).

But the science is kinda interesting.

reply to post by antar




But fyi - bacteriophages have been around a long, long time. They are viruses that target bacteria, always have been. The Soviet Union treated disease outbreaks and epidemics -successfully and "naturally"- with bacteriophage "cocktails" for decades - then, when the USSR broke up under perestroika, funding got cut and labs' power cut off. The microbiologists took the bacteriophages home to refrigerate them. Around 2003-4(?), a group brought some of the cultures to Yale(?) - and all h broke loose. Big Pharma did NOT want the competition...

reply to post by soficrow


Well this was all news to me but somehow struck a cord, nature is smart.

reply to post by antar


It's interesting stuff.

en.wikipedia.org...]

A bacteriophage (from 'bacteria' and Greek φᾰγεῖν phagein "to eat") is any one of a number of viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages are among the most common biological entities on Earth.[1] The term is commonly used in its shortened form, phage.

...Phages are estimated to be the most widely distributed and diverse entities in the biosphere.[2] Phages are ubiquitous and can be found in all reservoirs populated by bacterial hosts, such as soil or the intestines of animals. One of the densest natural sources for phages and other viruses is sea water, where up to 9×108 virions per milliliter have been found in microbial mats at the surface,[3] and up to 70% of marine bacteria may be infected by phages.[4] They have been used for over 60 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.[5] They are seen as a possible therapy against multi drug resistant strains of many bacteria.

One of mine, from 2005:

Phage News

Originally posted by soficrow
Bacteriophages - or phages - are viruses that kill bacteria. They were used successfully to treat infection in the 1930's - but then were upstaged by penicillin. Something of a medical conspiracy arranged to kill the growing industry in natural phages, and replace it with an antibiotic industry, starting with penicillin. Only Russia maintained their phage stocks.

Now - almost all bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, and most now just mutate immediately when they're exposed to antibiotics. The situation is dire - making simple infections potentially deadly once again, and affecting the safety of surgery.


So out of necessity - scientists are looking at phages again. Just tripped over this PubMed citation:

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005 Nov;49(11):4789-92. Therapeutic Effects of Bacteriophage Cpl-1 Lysin against Streptococcus pneumoniae Endocarditis in Rats. Entenza JM, Loeffler JM, Grandgirard D, Fischetti VA, Moreillon P. Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Biology Building, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. [email protected].

Cpl-1, a pneumococcal phage lytic enzyme, was tested in rats with experimental endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae WB4. High-dose regimen Cpl-1 eliminated pneumococci from blood within 30 min and decreased bacterial titers in vegetations (>4 log(10) CFU/g) within 2 h. Rapid bacterial lysis induced by Cpl-1 treatment increased cytokine secretion noticeably.
PMID: 16251333

more...

Maybe prions infect viruses similar to the way phages infect bacteria? But without killing them. [Much to Big Pharma's dismay, I suspect.)

Originally posted by soficrow

But the science is kinda interesting.

Indeed it is. And thanks for the information

Kinda makes one wonder, how wise it is to develop vaccinations to prevent these viruses to infect us.

-v