Posted on 09/10/2014 11:17:48 AM PDT by Covenantor
(Blah, blah, blah about Obam)....
(Snip)
Hundreds of mutations
An international research team has analyzed about a hundred Ebola virus genomes from 78 patients in Sierra Leone. The patients were diagnosed with Ebola in late May to mid June.
The researchers found more than 300 genetic changes that make the 214 Ebola virus genomes distinct from the viral genomes tied to previous Ebola outbreaks. Moreover, over 50 changes had occurred since the start of the 2014 outbreak, suggesting the virus is in fact mutating.
There are many cases where a change to the genome of an organism has no consequence.
But in this current outbreak of Ebola - with this particular strain - the researchers found a number of genetic mutations had altered proteins in the virus, potentially with disastrous affect.
The team led by Stephen Gire, a scientist with the Sabeti lab at the Broad Institute and Harvard University, wrote about their findings in "Science". They say some of the changes could influence doctors' ability to diagnose Ebola in the field. The data suggest that "continued progression of this epidemic could afford an opportunity for viral adaptation, underscoring the need for rapid containment."
Unknown consequences
But Stephen Gires says they "don't know whether these differences are related to the severity of the current outbreak."
Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit agrees, saying it is impossible to judge by looking at an altered genome whether the changes will translate to alter the biological appearance of a virus.
"Even if a virus mutates rapidly, it doesn't mean something will happen," Schmidt-Chanasit says. Many changes are minor. They are bound to happen when a virus spills over from one host to another, and especially in an epidemic, such as the one we are seeing in western Africa.
The area of research which investigates the relationship between genomes and the "behavior" of a virus in the field is called reverse genetics, and it's in its infancy.
Schmidt-Chanasit says that if investigations regarding this behavior in Ebola were to start now, they would take long time to complete, and would be of little help in the current outbreak....more at link
Bleedin’ plague ping
Interesting.
Wonder if it is really a lab escape.
Females and minorities hardest hit.
Of course, this administration will do exactly the wrong thing - let patients in so they can spread it here.
Well, of course, Ebola is mutating with unknown consequences. That’s what viruses do. They mutate to survive.
the sky is falling.... the sky is falling
viruses tend to mutate....
Liberal Academia has been wanting a bvirus to wipe out the “overpopulation”....
http://www.pearceyreport.com/archives/2006/04/transcript_dr_d.php/
The “rapid containment” horse is just about out of the barn.
Where will you put the huge army ready to kill to enforce a quarantine on Western Africa?
If you aren’t willing to do that, then geographic spread is assured.
Teleological fallacy.
LOL, such crazy ideas about sudden and unexpected
“lab escape” No, just over crowding. Judges ruled they had to be released.
???
Please explain.
Wrong kind of lab!
*snicker*
Never let a perceived threat go to waste! Thank God we all have access to Obamacare to fight this nasty bug!
Otherwise, said Obama, Ebola could mutate, making it more easily transmittable, "and then it could be a serious danger to the United States."
That's the ticket.
Send in US troops to stop the mutating!
Here’s a “Crazy Idea” for you to ponder: our government doesn’t screen immigrants for infectious diseases anymore, not HIV, tuberculosis, etc.
Combine that with our swiss cheese border.
Teleological fallacy.
<><><><<
Not in the slightest.
Demonstrably true by observation.
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