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.

Genetic aspects, Virus diseases

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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.

United States, Evaluation, End of the world, End of the world (Astronomy), End of the earth (Astrophysics)

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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.

Risk factors, Diseases, Animals, Genetic code, Picornavirus infections

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