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.
David Bolenski and the folks at XVIVO (yes, the same folks you all know and love) made a cool animation depicting the life-cycle of influenza!
You can find the long, 'scientific' version here, or a simplified explanation for NPR here:
H/T to Optimus Primate!
Disclaimer for stupid Creationists that want to plagiarize this animation for some reason or another-- While David & company are as scientifically accurate as possible, influenza 'doesnt really look like that'. This is an artists rendition. If you steal this, we will know. Like we knew you stole the other animation.
Medicine & Health
Comments
If you dig the NPR version, be sure to check out WNYC Radio Lab when you get time. It's co-hosted by Robert Krulwich (the NPR dude from the video).
If you've never heard it before, start with the episode "So-Called Life". It's one of my favorites.
Definitely not the deepest exploration of science out there, but for a general-audience radio program, the show never fails to be interesting and well-researched.
Posted by: Optimus Primate | December 1, 2009 8:19 PM
But do you think that creationists want to discuss how exquisitely the creator created these viruses to make us miserable and kill us?
More likely they break this out for part two of their presentation, Evil Intelligent Design: The Devil Makes Things Too!, wherein they explain that because Eve disobeyed God, the Devil had to make viruses to corrupt God's design or some such nonsense.
Posted by: Meng Bomin | December 1, 2009 10:10 PM
Don't tell them Abbie! Wait for them to get caught and then educate them.
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | December 1, 2009 10:13 PM
Much like all "evidence" used in documentaries and articles in support of evolution.
Posted by: William Wallace | December 2, 2009 8:21 AM
"When you do not know what you're talking about, your mouth is best used for chewing." - My grandma
Could someone get Limp Willy a sandwich?
Posted by: LanceR, JSG | December 2, 2009 9:33 AM
So, umm, Willy Wally, what about all of the evidence that's dug out of the ground? You know, the stuff you can actually see and sometimes touch at museums all over the world?* What's your take on that?
Wait... Don't tell me. Let me guess.
(*I have to admit, the idea of Willy Wally visiting a museum that doesn't boast saddled dinosaurs gives me a chuckle.)
Posted by: Optimus Primate | December 2, 2009 12:49 PM
"So, umm, Willy Wally, what about all of the evidence that's dug out of the ground?"
I do so enjoy the collection of Satan's sculptures at the Fields museum.
It does raise the question of why the devil makes them so difficult to find but I'm sure it is all part of the plan. *rubs hands*
Waddya wanna bet Dembski is running around the institute shouting "NO! NO! Change the print settings to purple on all the fliers! It turns out viruses are purple and immunoglobulins sound like this.... GLURK!"
Posted by: Prometheus | December 2, 2009 1:14 PM
*heart* the clathrin coated vesicles and the entry/uncoating
edit by ERV, lol you cant make hearts here cause of html :P
Posted by: mo | December 2, 2009 1:35 PM
Where is the text I wrote?
Posted by: mo | December 2, 2009 1:46 PM
<3
Hmm...
Posted by: LanceR, JSG | December 2, 2009 1:53 PM
You have to use HTML entities to make hearts. For example, <3 is written <3.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | December 2, 2009 1:55 PM
From the 'scientific' version: "Scientists believe that influenza virus is spread from person to person through exposure to large respiratory droplets, direct contact or airborne dispersal."
Gotcha! Faith-based science!
Posted by: Equisetum | December 2, 2009 2:36 PM
Pretty graphics. Sometimes I envy what you can do when you pre-render every frame.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | December 2, 2009 4:36 PM
That's adorable. I'm not even sure I dare listen to the sciency version now.
*splurg*
Posted by: Sili | December 4, 2009 3:16 AM