Do You Believe? - Page 9

Alex · 08-07-2008, 09:40 AM

Cross species infection would be pretty unlikely. Even among co-evolved Earth species cross transmission of disease is rare.

They might be toxic in other way, but I wouldn't be much worried about catching a cold from them.

innerSpaceman · 08-07-2008, 09:49 AM

Alien-bird flu?

Ghoulish Delight · 08-07-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Cross species infection would be pretty unlikely. Even among co-evolved Earth species cross transmission of disease is rare.

Well duh, that's BECAUSE we co-evolved. We've developed resistance to the strains of viruses that affect other species on our planet. But ALIEN viruses? No protection there.

Alex · 08-07-2008, 09:54 AM

And alien viruses would be unlikely to know what to do with our biology to even cause a problem.

And the reason cross species infection is rare is not because of resistance (if that were true then we wouldn't catch diseases from other people either) but because diseases are usually evolved to very specific triggers that change across species. We have no protection against bird flu, it just generally doesn't do damage to us in its common form. It is only once it has mutated into a rare form that can infect both birds and humans that it becomes dangerous.

08-07-2008, 09:40 AM	#81
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Cross species infection would be pretty unlikely. Even among co-evolved Earth species cross transmission of disease is rare. They might be toxic in other way, but I wouldn't be much worried about catching a cold from them.
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08-07-2008, 09:49 AM	#82
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Alien-bird flu?
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08-07-2008, 09:54 AM	#84
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	And alien viruses would be unlikely to know what to do with our biology to even cause a problem. And the reason cross species infection is rare is not because of resistance (if that were true then we wouldn't catch diseases from other people either) but because diseases are usually evolved to very specific triggers that change across species. We have no protection against bird flu, it just generally doesn't do damage to us in its common form. It is only once it has mutated into a rare form that can infect both birds and humans that it becomes dangerous. Last edited by Alex : 08-07-2008 at 10:02 AM.
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