Life on the edge of catastrophe
Article Abstract:
RNA viruses exist in the form of quasispecies with mutations loaded in their genomes. This is due to high RNA polymerase error-rates and a lack of proof reading mechanism. In extreme cases, hypermutation occurs, where many substitutions occur in a single replication cycle. group selection operates in RNA-virus systems, targeting the entire quasispecies rather than individual virus genomes. Thus, RNA viruses possess the ability to exploit new ecological niches and jump between host species, leading to the emergence of diseases.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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Is a doomsday catastrophe likely?
Article Abstract:
The risk of a doomsday catastrophe in which earth is destroyed is estimated to be miniscule giving a false sense of security leading to belief that such disasters are unlikely. So three hypothetical scenarios to initiate destruction of Earth were studied and it was concluded that these scenarios are overwhelmingly more likely to be triggered by natural high-energy astrophysical events, such as cosmic ray collisions.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2005
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High diversity of unknown picorna-like viruses in the sea
Article Abstract:
Picorna-like viruses are described as a group of positive-sense-single-stranded RNA viruses, which are major pathogens of animals, plants and insects. These viruses are of economic and public-health concern that are responsible for animal, plant and insect diseases.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2003
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- Abstracts: Forcing of the cold event of 8,200 years ago by catastrophic drainage of Laurentide lakes. Reduced meltwater outflow from the Laurentide ice margin during the Younger Dryas
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- Abstracts: In defence of the Department of Energy. Problems with stockpile stewardship. Rethinking on weapons clean-up
- Abstracts: Estimation of self-motion by optic flow processing in single interneurons. part 2 How to know where to go
- Abstracts: Genetic similarity theory and human assortative mating: a reply to Russell & Wells. Assortative mating in captive cowbirds is predicted by social experience