DIS - An Obol for Charon

[Actarus]

Can't wait for this crap to end. ''Viruses do not kill their host'' indeed.

Yo, love. We're talking viruses, not Goa'uld.

A virus infests its host to reproduce. Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves. They introduce their RNA into the host's cells, which will take that RNA, read it, then reproduce the virus. A dead host cannot reproduce the virus. Therefore it is a logical assessement to say that a virus' best interest is not to kill its host, even if it happens when the virus is "new" and not adapted to its host's species. I've heard a doctor mention that when a virus mutates, it will usually mutate to a more benign form for that very reason. That's why the virus causing the common cold is one of the most successful viruses. It does not kill its host and keeps going on and on and on from host to host.

[Fianna]

It's not logical for a virus to kill its host, but since viruses are incapable of logical thought, and we know that many of them do, in fact, kill their hosts, that's rather a stupid point to make.

[Actarus]

It's not logical for a virus to kill its host, but since viruses are incapable of logical thought, and we know that many of them do, in fact, kill their hosts, that's rather a stupid point to make.

Of course viruses are not able of logical thought. But attributing purpose and logical thoughts to mindless things and processes is a language mechanic that is often used to convey an idea. It remains that it is counterproductive for a virus to kill its host, so the comparison, while imperfect like all comparison, still works. The effect of the Sphere's intrusion in the ship's system may have destroyed it, but its was not its intention.

[Riedquat]

A virus infests its host to reproduce. Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves. They introduce their RNA into the host's cells, which will take that RNA, read it, then reproduce the virus. A dead host cannot reproduce the virus. Therefore it is a logical assessement to say that a virus' best interest is not to kill its host, even if it happens when the virus is "new" and not adapted to its host's species. I've heard a doctor mention that when a virus mutates, it will usually mutate to a more benign form for that very reason. That's why the virus causing the common cold is one of the most successful viruses. It does not kill its host and keeps going on and on and on from host to host.

The mutations can be more or less deadly - there's nothing swaying that either way. But the less deadly mutations survive better for the reasons already mentioned (i.e. why the cold is so successful).

[Actarus]

A virus infests its host to reproduce. Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves. They introduce their RNA into the host's cells, which will take that RNA, read it, then reproduce the virus. A dead host cannot reproduce the virus. Therefore it is a logical assessement to say that a virus' best interest is not to kill its host, even if it happens when the virus is "new" and not adapted to its host's species. I've heard a doctor mention that when a virus mutates, it will usually mutate to a more benign form for that very reason. That's why the virus causing the common cold is one of the most successful viruses. It does not kill its host and keeps going on and on and on from host to host.

The mutations can be more or less deadly - there's nothing swaying that either way. But the less deadly mutations survive better for the reasons already mentioned (i.e. why the cold is so successful).

Well, that's what I wanted to say.