HUMAN HOST AND VIRAL PARASITE- Andromeda Strain

WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT HOME NOW?

Scooped up by a Satellite sent into space for the purpose of bringing samples of microscopic life back to earth, the Andromeda Strain (1977) of virus is incredibly robust, and able to exist even in the vacuum of space. Once on earth, it instantly kills (almost) every human and vulture it comes into contact with.

The Andromeda Strain. Another bird flu?

This alien virus is truly alien in that it seems to reproduce more like a bacteria than like a virus. As you will recall from my Mutation, Part 1 entry, viruses use the resources of a host cell to replicate. Earthly viruses cannot reproduce without a cell to infect. Not so for the the Andromeda Strain.

Our nation's best scientists have found this microbe to be capable of using energy to undergo a mitosis-like process in which the virus makes copies of itself(1). In the words of one researcher regarding this process, “It’s like a nuclear reactor!” The logic and meaning of this statement is somewhat fuzzy in the film. As a matter of fact, scientists in the film state that a nuclear explosion would release so much energy that the virus could be induced to replicate at astronomical rates. Therefore the nuclear option as a method of viral containment is out. It is also a crystalline form of life, something that we don’t see here on good ol’ earth every day. (Or any day, really.)

This crystalline virus will use "energy" and nothing else...

... to divide and reproduce in mitosis-like fashion.

SUCK IT UP (YOUR NOSE)

This virus is inhaled, reacts with blood in the lungs, and initiates virtually instantaneous clotting that emanates from the pulmonary circulation through the trunk, and out to the extremities.

High-tech seventies style imaging of spontaneous coagulation of blood in a rhesus monkey exposed to the virus.

Of course, instantaneous death is the result with primary Andromeda infection. An incision of the skin of an infected (dead) person releases a dusty stream of sand-like blood from the wound site.

Clotting and dehydration!

HEAVY BREATHING, HEAVY DRINKING

Is there no cure, vaccine, or other prophylactic measure that can help us control the spread of this airborne threat to human and vulture-kind(2)? Well, it turns out that hyperventilation may produce changes in blood acidity, making it more alkaline, and discouraging Andromeda viral infection. The microbe grows well in the presence of normal levels of blood carbon dioxide(3), less well with oxygen(4). The stuff can thrive in a vacuum, but mess with a simple thing like blood ph and it falls apart.

Signs and symptoms of primary Andromeda Strain infection: shortness of breath, instantaneous death.

Here's a young woman dead of Andromeda Strain infection. Needless to say, she got more camera time than any other casualty of the virus in this film.

Treatment: Increase blood acid or alkaline levels, through vigorous anaerobic exercise (increases acidity) or hyperventilation (increases alkaline). Additional treatment may be attempted through hyperventilation, or drinking of Sterno. Yes, Sterno or other forms of denatured alcohol. Nuclear devices are contraindicated.

Drink this at your next fondue party to treat your Andromeda Strain infection.

1. During mitosis a cell will make copies of its DNA, organize matching sets of DNA/genetic material at either end of the cell, and then the cell splits into two, making a perfect copy of itself.

2. It kills beagles, monkeys, and rats, too!

3. Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood (which can happen with vigorous exercise) increased blood acidity, for you trivia buffs.

4. As your breathing rate increases with vigorous exercise, you blow off carbon dioxide, and end up with more oxygen in the bloodstream which makes blood more alkaline.

KEVIN GEEKS OUT - Mutants #2

Me introducing future variations of genetic mutation.

Thanks, Matthew Glasson, for this great photo!

From Kevin Geeks Out: Visions Of The Future

In our last/first installment of my lecture at Kevin Geeks Out, I had just laid some mutation groundwork, based on favorite mutation films. Here in Part 2 we continue our exploration of mutations, with a look at DNA, chromosomes, and genes...

THE INEVITABLE OVERTHROW OF THE HUMAN POPULATION,

DUE TO NOTABLE AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN ABERRANT

CHROMOSOMAL PROLIFERATION OF MULTIPLE ETIOLOGIES

Part 2

What is the difference between chromosomes, genes and DNA?

Chromosome

A chromosome is a bunch of tightly coiled and packed together DNA,

DNA

the DNA is your genetic material.

Mr. DNA from Jurassic Park

Genes are sections of coiled DNA in the chromosome.

A mutation occurs when a gene's DNA is altered. What the heck is DNA? Deoxyribonucleic acid, that what. It's made of stuff called nucleotides. A genetic mutation occurs when DNA in a cell’s gene is damaged or altered in a way that changes the information carried by that gene.

Thread Of Life, a Bell Labs educational film... it's great!

DNA does two things. First, it reproduces itself before a cell divides, in an asexual process called mitosis.

Here in this aesexual pornographic image (below), we see the cell dividing. DNA reproduction gives each cell the same genetic information.

Cell porn. Exciting, isn't it?

DNA also instructs cells to build proteins, which is a big deal. Proteins have the most varied functions of any molecules in the body. One of the things they do is to form the altered cell structures of the mutated Emil Blonsky and Bruce Banner.

Mutant proteins in mortal combat.

Mutations of the present and future can happen in two different ways, either inherited from a parent, or acquired during a person's lifetime.

Mutations that are passed from parent to child are called hereditary mutations. They are present in the egg and/or sperm cells. The X-Men mutations are excellent examples of hereditary mutations. This type of mutation is present throughout a person’s life in virtually every cell in the body. They may be passed on to offspring, sometimes predictably, or in the case of the Brotherhood of Evil, unpredictably.

Mystique is a member of The Brotherhood

The slang term for Mystique’s hereditary mutation is “shape shifting.” She can create ovaries or testes, at will, as she transforms into a male or female person. We should assume that she has viable reproductive cells regardless of their external form (egg or sperm). The predictability of mutant genetic expression is unexplored territory, requiring further research. At this point in time we must consider genetic expression in mutant offspring to be always unpredictable.

Mystique attempting to engage Wolverine in genetic expression.

What about the sex lives of humans with acquired mutations? Come back for the third installment of my lecture from Kevin Geeks Out: Visions Of The Future!