Abbie Smith is a graduate student studying the molecular and biochemical evolution of HIV within patients and within populations. She also studies epigenetic control of ERVs.
Its been years ago, now, that I nomie-nomed up Behes stupid arguments about TEH EDGE UV EVILUTION and HIV-1. Geeze, what, two years ago? And to this day there are still things about Behe that make me literally *LOL*
For instance, Ive always loved Behes IDiotic perspective on viruses. You see, bacteria and humans and such contain elegantly Intelligently Designed molecular machines that are absolutely perfect. Viruses, on the other hand, are common hooligans that just 'gum things up':
Like throwing a wad of chewing gum into a finely tuned machine, its relatively easy to clog a system, blah blah, *fart*Instead of appreciating viruses for the stealth, immensely clever (and in the case of HIV-1, unstoppable) creatures they are, Behe sees them as lumbering dimwits hurling rocks and his pretty, pretty machines.
Yeah, turns out a potential HIV-1 therapy someone has come up with is to just throw shit at Vpu to gum it up:
We propose that it is feasible to increase the effective cell surface density of Vpu-free tetherin by designing transmembrane peptide decoys that target the Vpu TM α-helix and abort the assembly of tetherin-Vpu heterooligomers.In other words, find any peptide that binds to Vpu in such a way it forms non-functional heterooligomers instead of binding up tetherin. Dump it into HIV-1 patients. Essentially 'knock down' Vpu. PROFIT!
...
It requires exploring the TM sequence landscape to identify optimal Vpu TM matchmakers that would self-assemble into unproductive heterooligomers, thereby overcoming the restrain on tetherin and the consequent restriction of virion release from infected cells.
YAY!
Throwing gum in the works! So unrefined! *puts noes in air*
LOL!!!
Life Science
Comments
<Behe> Well, obviously it was designed to work that way. The Intelligent Designer* works in mysterious ways. </Behe>
*No representation is made that the quality of spooky shit performed The Intelligent Designer is greater than the quality of spooky shit performed by other hypothetical deities.
Posted by: Optimus Primate | June 4, 2009 8:37 PM
Very cool, ERV.
But I can't stop giggling at "heterooligomers."
Heterooligomers. Hehe! Hehehe! Heterooligomers.
Heteroooooooooligomers!
(you know...oooo, rhymes with booo?)
Posted by: rrt | June 4, 2009 11:40 PM
Yes, but I can just hear some IDiot, having misunderstood, say something like, "That Abbie Smith says AIDS can be cured by chewing gum."
That seems to be how their brains work.
Posted by: Mobius | June 5, 2009 12:59 AM
Chewing gum and green tea, you mean.
Posted by: Brian | June 5, 2009 1:55 AM
Note the irony: here, the gum-peptide which clogs the beautiful machine is the only part of the system which is actually intelligently designed :D
(Or do they search for useful peptides by affinity-binding and in vitro evolution? That would be even more evolutionary pwn.)
Posted by: dvizard | June 5, 2009 10:32 AM
On behalf of the Society for the Reïntroduction of the Diaraesis I bring you "heteroöligomer".
Posted by: Sili | June 5, 2009 10:55 AM
dvizard-- ROFL!!!!! I MISSED THAT! AHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted by: ERV | June 5, 2009 11:28 AM
Actually, most of the gomers I have come across are homo.
Posted by: carlsonjok | June 6, 2009 12:41 PM
I just had a pleasant evening following your links and admiring your demolition of Behe. Thanks for bringing that back. Two years ago I wasn't paying much attention to the argument, and I missed lots of fun.
Posted by: Tomato Addict | June 15, 2009 11:59 PM