Thoughts on viruses

Viruses. They’re neat little things. I would call them creatures, but they aren’t living. So, you can’t kill them, really. And they’re small. Beyond comprehension. A typical flu virus is around 100 nanometers. But, you’ll have a hard time imagining that. So, let’s scale that up to a ping pong ball, that’s about 40 millimeters. Or about 400,000 times larger than that virus.

A HEPA filter is rated to be highly efficient at 300 nanometer particles. Or, scaled up, about 50% larger than the hole in a chain link fence. HEPA filters have other tricks that fences don’t, but it’s a size comparison.

But, this isn’t about the size or filtration of viruses. No, they are much more interesting.

In my world, I don’t know if we had viruses or not. Most had access to basic magic that included healing. If someone did get sick, it wouldn’t have been for very long. We had bigger things to worry about. Falling down a mountain, wild animals, moving trees, wizards. Things like these.

Yes, our trees could move, at least some of them. Some were kind, some weren’t. Some would help you harvest housing material, some would take your house.

Back to viruses. Why are they interesting? Basically, it’s where they could be from and why they exist. Of course, these aren’t questions that have real answers, but that’s why it’s here. Some things to think about.

Now, I am aware that there are people that believe in creationism, and some are evolutionists. And there is some ground in the middle. I think the two can be the same on Earth, but let’s leave that for later.

For a creationist, the origin of a virus is either by your creator or his enemy. Quick note on pronouns, I use the old-school version. Unknown gender is he and him and his. That’s all that topic deserves.

For an evolutionists, the origin of viruses is a bit more complex. Were viruses first? Are they a by-product of evolution? Are they highly evolved parasites?

For either camp, or the more fence-like, the implication of their existence is mildly important. After all, viruses can modify your genes. But, maybe the existence of viral genetic code in humans only supports the virus coming from a higher life form.

How would this happen? Where are the references? Second is first, any information you see here is easily found, unless it’s been tossed down a memory hole somewhere. Even bad information has its uses. Like conspiracy theories. Yesterday’s conspiracy theory may be tomorrow’s truth.

Now for the first. This relies on a little knowledge of cellular division. I’ll summarize here.

Most of the time, a cell is gathering energy. Fattening up. When it gets a signal from neighbors that it’s time to multiply, the first real step is to replicate the DNA information. After the chromosomes/DNA have multiplied, the other cell parts duplicate themselves. Then the membrane around the nucleus dissolves and a copy of each set of chromosomes are moved to either end of the cell. The nuclear membrane reappears, and the cell itself pinches itself into two.

The part here that comes into what I’m talking about today is the DNA replication. As you may guess, not all cell divisions are successful. During the process, the cells have built-in checks. If something goes wrong, a chemical signal is released that tells the immune system that lunch is ready. If a lot of things go wrong, you get cysts, bumps, tumors, and other wizard-like things.

DNA replication is where RNA comes into play. I’m hoping you already know that the DNA in a cell contains all the information to create the complex lifeform of it’s host. So, if you’re human, all your cells contain the DNA to create every aspect of you. Some say personality is part of this. I won’t disagree completely. But, maybe I’ll discuss that some other time.

The RNA is created by the DNA to create the necessary proteins to support DNA replication. When the RNA leaves the nucleus, it’s called mRNA. It goes to the protein factories in the cells, where it’s basically destroyed. If you want to think of it another way, RNA is the messenger from the DNA molecule to the protein synthesis engine in the cells. If you want a cell to make a particular protein, give it some mRNA with the appropriate message. After the cells biology checks the validity of the protein, either the protein is allowed to exist or the immunes system drools and has a bit of lunch.

Summarized. Not completely complete. But, for the purpose of viruses, this is where they can be created. With several billion instructions that can come from DNA, there’s bound to be a bad message. This is the basis for viruses coming from the evolutionary process. These bad message boys form a protein shell and escape. In short.

Now, there is a camp that says that viruses were formed first, and they eventually combined to create complex cells. Back to the ping pong ball. That’s a typical virus size. That means there are also small marbles and softballs. If a small marble merges with a softball, it’s possible another type of virus is formed with the combined genetic material of the original parents. Keep going, and these genetic bit may form bacteria. So the theory states.

Technically, most of what I’m calling theories are really hypotheses. The two terms seem to be used a little more interchangeably than they should. But, most people outside of research scientists are fine with theory being a hypothesis. And so it is.

And, there’s the evolved parasite thing. A parasite only needs a certain amount of genetic material, it gets the rest from its host. This theory hypothesizes that the parasite, through evolution, downsized its genetic material to just what it needs.

For creationists, one of two very powerful beings created viruses, and bacteria, for some purpose. Did it come from the good guy? Or the bad guy? Good luck with that answer.

And here’s why. A typical human contains more living bacteria than actual human cells. Again, summarizing. Bacteria could also be other living cells that aren’t directly contributed to the human organs. I don’t really want to list all the types, so we’ll just stick with calling all of them bacteria.

Sounds mildly nauseating, doesn’t it? You’re much less human than you thought. But, what keeps this bacteria in check and from just eating all the human parts? Viruses. Viruses and bacteria are in a constant battle. Be thankful. Now, some say that the average human body contains one hundred trillion living cells. Again, big number. Let’s just call it one hundred. Forty-nine of these will be human. I’m sure this is a scientific guess, but we’ll use it. A guess from a scientist usually has some data behind it. Usually trustworthy, even if the summary isn’t.

For every living bacteria, these same scientists estimate there are ten virions. These are basically a single virus particle. English is such a fun language. I’m thankful for the melding experience, in hind sight.

I don’t know why they distinguish between saying ten virions per bacteria vs saying ten virions per livings cell. We all know viruses like human cells just as much as bacteria. Maybe more. We should interview one someday.

So, viruses are either good or bad. Same for bacteria. They are both good and bad. So, who created what?

No matter the origin, viruses are interesting. Really, living cells are interesting also. In the time it took you to read this, about a million of your cells divided. Probably a million virions were destroyed. Nearly as many bacteria replicated and some were destroyed. A few of your cells failed their division and have been devoured by your immune system. If you’re unlucky, a tumor has started. If you have luck, this tumor will be turned into a nice, juicy steak by your immune system, and you’ll never know what started.

Wrap your head around that.

Vaccines, or "Vaccines"

This is where I go into an unburnable book for a definition. More correctly, a dictionary whose contents cannot be altered by time or at the whim of human consciousness.

Vaccine: A suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms, as of viruses or bacteria, incapable of inducing severe infection but capable when inoculated of counteracting the unmodified species.

The key in this definition is that the vaccine contains the organism or virus from which it is intended to protect you against. It isn't a synthetic alternative with lab-grown proteins or, worse yet, lab-grown genetic material. Aushlin may disagree with the latter, but he at least starts with your own genetic material. Maybe I'll delve more into his methodology as he explained it to me, but that isn't really the intent of this thought. I will say, this thought will not be quite as long as my memories or other thoughts. But, that may be just what you're looking for today.

When the world was first learning of SARS-COV2, that definition of a vaccine was still current. As it was written in nineteen-hundred and eighty nine. I can go farther back. A dictionary printed in nineteen-hundred and sixty six, with an original date of nineteen-hundred and fifty two. As of this paragraph, I have not opened this book. Ever.

Vaccine: Any preparation, especially one of bacteria or a virus of a specific disease, used for preventative inoculation against a disease.

Those two definitions match fairly well. Just to go into a side conversation, I retain the entire encyclopedia set from which the latter dictionary is a part of. Along with the encyclopedia and dictionary, it includes a world atlas and many books for a child's learning. I also have access to a similar set dated about ten years newer. If you have these types of books, hold on to them. Their content cannot change, and that will be important.

You'll notice both definitions require the carrier of the disease, bacteria or virus, to be part of the formula. Although the bacteria or virus would be deactivated, or destroyed, while retaining the features necessary for the human immune system to learn and react to the specific proteins. These are considered natural vaccines.

Synthetic vaccines contain no such natural material and rely on proteins and genetic material that is grown in a lab. These are where the issues lie. And, yes, that word was chosen for its multiple meanings.

The gods and dragons created our bodies, yours and mine. While they allowed some sentience to create, it would be prudent to listen to their intent and not use that body as a vessel of experimentation. You can decorate it how you like, but changing the bodies of others, or even decorating others, would not go in the intended path of the gods and dragons.

What is their path? Look at what nature provides. Nature is written on the intended path. As much as any would like to remove all illness, those bacteria and viruses are charting the course of your development. To some extent, cancer and other genetic defects are in this category as well. The latter two of which Aushlin treated and removed from his society. What he didn't do is remove the effects of bacteria and viruses, noting their beneficial results.

What are those benefits? Growth. It can be seen in the human genome. There are people on this planet that are unaffected by viruses that take down, and even kill, their fellow man. They can walk unprotected in a room of infected people, and walk out without so much as a sniffle. Super human? No, evolutionary advancement. It isn't to say they are immune to any virus, but their specific evolution has made them superior in that one way.

It is nature's progress that allows these people to walk among the crowds, and it's nature's intent that they lead the next chapter in evolution for your species. They may never take a podium, or headline any video channel, but they will lead through there genetics.

If you prefer the thought that a single god created your species, and moves it along, then that same god is introducing these viruses and bacteria that evolve your species, whilst removing the weakest from your midst.

Both are truths, but neither is a happy ending for all.