Posted by IsoM on April 7, 2003, at 1:32:24
In reply to Re: SARS UPDATE » IsoM, posted by Dinah on April 6, 2003, at 12:17:12
I'm not sure, Dinah, medical experts still aren't certain what family for sure. They did say it may belong to the coronavirus family, the one that causes colds but that it's unlike any other in that family. That's why they think it may be a mutation. Viruses mutate easily & pass genetic material back & forth between each other, the way people exchange money - it could be something that doesn't even belong to any known family. Most viruses are classified only when they do harm & the majority don't.
There are literally millions of different viruses. The way they're classed is according is according to what host they use, their chemical composition (protein, lipid envelope, protein coat, etc) & shape, size, & sysmmetry, & whether they contain DNA or RNA. There are about 20 virus families (I'm no expert so I won't say anything I'm not positive about) - it's all very confusing for even medical experts. I've been trying to follow the it as best as I can. I suppose to us ordinary people, it matters little to what family it's in.
poster:IsoM
thread:215542
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030401/msgs/216877.html