Why aren't scientists genetically modifying dangerous viruses like HIV into something more usefull?

Question

Like a virus that makes you smarter... I would love to get my brains f*cked in. Oh how this planet could use a "smart" plague...

Answer 1

the girl on the top was deleted (second time this week)
I'm sick of the fuсking yahoo machine. I want to take this place down. (i've apparently had way too much coffee today)

Answer 2

Well, it's not really that simple, for a few reasons.

First, viruses are pretty unstable. They do have genetic material, but they mutate pretty frequently, so even if we were to engineer one to be beneficial, there's no guarantee that it would stay beneficial.

Viruses are also inherently bad for you. They take over the machinery inside your cells and use it to make more virus particles, which then cause the cell to rupture and spill new virus particles all over the place (where they then go on to infect new cells). Also, the immune system recognizes most viruses and mounts an attack against them, regardless of whether or not they would be good for you. Take gene therapy, for example. A while back, scientists engineered a retrovirus (one that takes its DNA and actually integrates it into the host's) to replace a faulty gene (I think the one that causes cystic fibrosis) in a patient. There was a good chance that it would have worked, except for the fact that the patient's immune system attacked the retrovirus, causing a systemic reaction that killed the patient.

It's also not that easy to change someone's genetic makeup beyond a certain point. It would be easy to insert a new sequence into a person when they are still only a ball of a few cells. Once they start developing, it gets harder, and it would be very, very difficult even a few months before birth. At that point, most of the systems in the body are formed, and are simply developing further. For example, if scientists identified a gene that made people smarter (they haven't yet, to my knowledge), it might do some good to put it into an embryo right at the time of fertilization or shortly thereafter. After birth, however, inserting it into a person would do little good, because, for the most part, the brain is already formed, and is simply making connections at that point.

Viruses are very useful, though. When scientists insert a gene into a cell, it is often through a viral vector (I've done it several times myself). It is best done on cells in culture, though, since using a virus can damage the cells (in such a way that would harm a living organism, but wouldn't cause many problems in a petri dish), and there is no immune system to worry about.

Answer 3

When it comes to smarts, the HIV virus is an underachiever. Viruses are total Ultrastooges™ -- they kill their host and then they die. The danger in making a smart plague is that the viruses would figure out how to keep you alive -- barely -- for a looooong time. It's not a pretty picture.

Answer 4

There are 3 opportunities- A biologically engineered virus for a terrorist attack. A biologically engineered virus for inhabitants maintenance. A needless to say occurring phenomena. We should not panic through media's hysteria, the only reason there have been lots of deaths in Mexico is using undesirable wellness care (no longer meant to offend anybody) and there has purely been one shown loss of life brought about by potential of Swine Influenza contained in america. this could be a biologically engineered virus created by potential of a thorough terrorist team which includes Al-Qaeda to attack harmless U.S. electorate, understanding that america borders are greater risk-free than Mexico's, the virus could have particularly been transmitted to the Mexican human beings and so on. Viruses have been commonplace to "bounce" and transmit genes to a minimum of one yet another becoming quite of a hybrid virus. this can be the case with the Swine flu, being that that's a hybrid of The Avian flu, the Swine Flu, and the seasonal Human flu (each and every now and then there is not any longer some grand scheme to all of it) that's what surpassed off with the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic however the Avian Influenza Virus jumped directly to human beings. The swine flu could have been created to maintain increasing populations in Mexico and could have by risk been transmitted to American vacationers who finally unfold the virus to america. the final analysis, no count what the reason, do no longer hardship plenty approximately it through fact maximum individuals of the deaths have been brought about by potential of undesirable wellness care, no longer the flu itself. was hoping i became of a few help. additionally by potential of ways, THE VIRUS isn't AIRBORNE, human beings have been SPREADING IT by using shuttle and then DIRECT touch.

Answer 5

viruses cannot be genetically modified bcuz the have no genetic material. In my first year at University i thought about a way to prevent the HIV virus from attacking cells but my professor said it wouldn't work.

Answer 6

Because, silly, scientists are too busy coming up with cures for lack of self control.

Answer 7

The;ll probably to modify it; but i doubt it will help anyone.They might try to use it against some country like Iran with their looney president in mind.,

Answer 8

I don't know about getting your brains f*cked in but I can f*ck them out.

Answer 9

They tried, the experiment ended in total failure. If you look in the mirror you will see the results of that fiasco.

Answer 10

I still waiting for my brain transplant...