WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! Bird flu variant found in baby seals. - Page 2

Beerina · 2nd August 2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger

For anyone who actually cares about the science, this is an excellent summary with dozens of links to more factual analysis of the risks than the typical news sensationalism: Avian Flu Diary - mBio: A Mammalian Adapted H3N8 In Seals

So:

Quote:

Professor*Ian Lipkinof Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have*both types of receptor cells.

Nice!

wollclark · 2nd August 2012, 08:58 PM

"Professor Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have both types of receptor cells."

What does this mean, exactly?

EDIT: I just read the source quote in context:

"In both the BBC and NYTs report, one of the authors of this study – celebrated virus hunter Professor Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have both types of receptor cells.

If infected by two different strains simultaneously, they could act as a `mixing vessel’ for influenza strains, and produce a hybrid (reassorted) virus."

So... we are all going to die?

BenBurch · 2nd August 2012, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by wollclark

"Professor* Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have *both types of receptor cells."

What does this mean, exactly?

That they can be simultaneously be infected with both types and the reassortment of genes I mentioned can take place.

But we have a lot less contact with seals than with swine, so I am not sure its much increased risk.

Macgyver1968 · 2nd August 2012, 09:12 PM

Dude...Wollclark...you're paranoid.

Beerina · 2nd August 2012, 10:18 PM

Ya we're gonna die. Everyone dies. Unless tech continues to advance really rapidly, and even moreso than it is today, functionally ending death (something I regularly complain about in the health care threads as rate of tech advancement is the vastly most important variable to saving lives.)

From a virus, doubtful. These things are difficult to fight off, and sometimes millions die, but most people do fight them off and end up surviving.

2nd August 2012, 10:03 AM	#41
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 31,370	Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger For anyone who actually cares about the science, this is an excellent summary with dozens of links to more factual analysis of the risks than the typical news sensationalism: Avian Flu Diary - mBio: A Mammalian Adapted H3N8 In Seals So: Quote: ProfessorIan Lipkinof Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – haveboth types of receptor cells. Nice!
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

2nd August 2012, 08:58 PM	#42
wollclark Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 412	"Professor Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have both types of receptor cells." What does this mean, exactly? EDIT: I just read the source quote in context: "In both the BBC and NYTs report, one of the authors of this study – celebrated virus hunter Professor Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have both types of receptor cells. If infected by two different strains simultaneously, they could act as a `mixing vessel’ for influenza strains, and produce a hybrid (reassorted) virus." So... we are all going to die?
	Last edited by wollclark; 2nd August 2012 at 09:07 PM.

2nd August 2012, 09:01 PM	#43
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 37,538	Originally Posted by wollclark "Professor* Ian Lipkin of Columbia University – expressed concerns over the discovery that seals – like pigs – have *both types of receptor cells." What does this mean, exactly? That they can be simultaneously be infected with both types and the reassortment of genes I mentioned can take place. But we have a lot less contact with seals than with swine, so I am not sure its much increased risk.
	__________________ For what doth it profit a man, to fix one bug, but crash the system?

2nd August 2012, 09:12 PM	#44
Macgyver1968 Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 5,164	Dude...Wollclark...you're paranoid.
	__________________ "Fixin' crap that ain't broke."

2nd August 2012, 10:18 PM	#45
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 31,370	Ya we're gonna die. Everyone dies. Unless tech continues to advance really rapidly, and even moreso than it is today, functionally ending death (something I regularly complain about in the health care threads as rate of tech advancement is the vastly most important variable to saving lives.) From a virus, doubtful. These things are difficult to fight off, and sometimes millions die, but most people do fight them off and end up surviving.
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right? Last edited by Beerina; 2nd August 2012 at 10:20 PM.