Researchers Reconstruct 1918 Flu Virus

Gnpatton writes "CNN is running a story on how researchers have recreated the gene sequence for the 1918 virus which claimed 50 million lives. The mapping for the gene sequence was found on a victim frozen in Alaskan permafrost. From the article: 'Using a technique called reverse genetics, the Mount Sinai researchers used the genetic coding to create microscopic, virus-like strings of genes, called plasmids.'" Researchers are hoping that reconstructing a virus like this will help them to better understand similar problems. The structure was originally determined earlier this year.

I would be much more interested...

[boobox]

.. in getting them to cure the darn cold I currently have.

Greaaaat......

[Anonymous Coward]

It's in my very own city.

I'll let everyone know how everything goes if it ev

Re:Captain Tripps

[Rei]

Other researchers in the field have questioned the scientific benefits of bringing back the lethal virus which once took an estimated 50 million lives. Counterterrorism experts have described a potential doomsday scenario for this virus which the population is no longer as immune to, wherein it once again ends up being spread among the general population.

Asked for comment, Dr. Jeffrey Tauenberger, who led the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology team that restored the virus, cackled "Fools! I'll destroy them all!"

Re:Sick and should be forbidden...

[NitsujTPU]

Maybe we should start detonating H-bombs above ground again to see if we can learn something new from that ?

It might be fun actually. I think that we should to atmospheric nuclear tests on big holidays. It could be like fireworks, only much more entertaining.

Re:Hmm...

[game kid]

God creates man.
God creates flu.
Flu kills man.
God creates new man.
New man creates flu. ...

And what do you think comes next?

Notice the emerging pattern (1->2, 1->3, 3X2, 1->2, 2->3); next will be 3X1, or Flu kills God. Like, duh. ;)

--whoa, the flu can kill God?!? *head explodes*

Re:Greaaaat......

[Spy der Mann]

It's in my very own city. I'll let everyone know how everything goes if it ev

Gesundheit :)

Re:ah!

[Dan East]

Yeah. Let's also hope an old black woman with telepathic ability can draw all the non-evil people together so they can wage battle with the evil survivors.

Dan East

Re:Plasmids

[frank_adrian314159]

Incidentally, how is Avian Flu being reported in america?

GW Bush used one of the questions in his press conference to jump into a little sidestream about bringing out the troops if the Republican majority was in jeop^W^W^W^W^W^W... uh, if there was an avian flu epidemic. In fact, he even said he'd use them to quarantine all of the voters in the blue^W^W^W^W... people in those cities where the outbreak occurred.

Re:Sick and should be forbidden...

[justins]

Yea, I say we be really freaking careful how we handle this virus.

You better send those researchers a memo or something. I'm sure they're being all careless and shit, flinging beakers and test tubes back and forth across the lab, since they must not understand the danger.

Re:Ok...

[HD Webdev]

I didn't want to chance a "-1 Too Obvious".