Viruses can catch colds, says study that redefines life itself - Telegraph - The Diigo Meta page

• 07 Aug 08
  

  Greta Paschke

  virus life evolution

• 

  Jeremy Smith
  • Prof La Scola and his colleagues were surprised to spot a smaller type of virus attached to the virus-making factory inside infected cells. The new virus - Sputnik - was unable to infect cells by itself but seemed to hijack the larger to achieve its infectious aims.
• 06 Aug 08
  

  Giant viruses are infected with smaller viruses. (or is that virii?)

  studies news science biology

  • the discovery of a giant virus that itself falls ill through infection by another virus
• 

  andymatic

  But the discovery of a giant virus that itself falls ill through infection by another virus seems to suggest they too are alive, highlighting how there is no watertight definition of what exactly scientists mean when they refer to something as "living".

  genetics biology science

Page Comments

• 
  Jeremy Smith on 2008-08-07
  Fascinating. Methodism used to be likened to a virus that was a parasite to its host (the Anglican church). I wonder what the virus's virus is...[future blog post]

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