To quote the article: "The three genes -- called PA, PB1, and PB2 -- along with a 1918 version of the nucleoprotein or NP gene, made modern seasonal flu kill ferrets in much the same way as the original 1918 flu, Kawaoka's team found." Now. Maybe I'm being a little silly here, but does building a better flu really sound like a good idea? To anybody? I've read The Stand. I don't feel like moving to Colorado. I love pandemics in history and in theory, but I'd really rather not have 'They Fucked Around With Flu' stamped on mankind's collective tombstone.
In other news, small boys still hold firecrackers in their bare hands, because maybe this time, it's going to go differently.
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January 7 2009, 16:20:26 UTC 8 years ago
January 7 2009, 16:00:38 UTC 8 years ago
Still, you have a point, certainly. Best not to f' around with things that are innately deadly to us. "Hey, anyone want to watch me juggle rattlesnakes?"
January 7 2009, 16:20:51 UTC 8 years ago
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January 7 2009, 16:02:03 UTC 8 years ago
Also, yes; hope springs eternal. Something about the definition of something... *wanders off mumbling to self*
January 7 2009, 16:22:02 UTC 8 years ago
Now feel better!
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January 7 2009, 16:08:26 UTC 8 years ago
In other news, since it's January, a new year, I'm re-reading the Stand again. The wet, NJ winter is helping with the ambiance.
January 8 2009, 15:27:43 UTC 8 years ago
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January 7 2009, 17:00:57 UTC 8 years ago
Because really, with a name like "cellular/molecular toxicology," I'm sure we can easily deal with whatever containment system they use going awry. Right.
January 8 2009, 15:28:16 UTC 8 years ago
Dude.
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January 7 2009, 17:54:59 UTC 8 years ago
Five years ago, you said 1918 pandemic and you got 'whut' for a response.
And Jim and I jump up and say "You know, the one that killed people so fast, it even took the undertakers before they could get the people underground...and hit at both sides of the rail lines? THAT ONE. The one nobody has any real history on, could do nothing about and thankfully, ended by itself."
Cue O RLY response - and theeere they go.
(Gotcha bird flu riiiight here. *eye roll*)
January 8 2009, 15:28:41 UTC 8 years ago
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January 7 2009, 18:33:52 UTC 8 years ago
WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!
January 8 2009, 15:28:53 UTC 8 years ago
January 7 2009, 18:36:30 UTC 8 years ago
*loves your way with words*
January 8 2009, 15:29:04 UTC 8 years ago
January 7 2009, 19:25:48 UTC 8 years ago
Anyway, there was a quiet broo-ca-ca at the time they started, something about nervous people wanting them to use a nice Level-5 secure facility instead of the level-3 one I think they started in.
And last, concerning the short tale of the small boys holding firecrackers in their bare hands, my friend Bernie told me the most common last words of people from his town: "Hey ya'll, watch this!"
January 8 2009, 01:27:26 UTC 8 years ago
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January 7 2009, 22:56:04 UTC 8 years ago
Seriously. How'm I gonna get to Colorado from Australia? That's just not fair. *hopes flu does not make it to Australia at all*
January 8 2009, 15:30:03 UTC 8 years ago
Pretty sure the flu will get there, hon, since it's an avian-base, and can thus be carried by birds. Just as an FYI.
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