Evolution is Not Always a Good Thing
Though not contagious to humans, the ``Lambda`` virus has given scientists a glimpse at how viruses can evolve over time in an effort to find new ways to attack host cells. Technically, there are no cures for any viruses, as they never leave the body. A perfect example is the common cold. The cold you get this year is still the first cold you ever had, it never left your body, it just lays dormant until something (environment, lack of rest, too much stress etc.) triggers it to become active again.
Now researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have revealed just exactly how new viruses evolve and gaining comprehension on how easy it can manipulate itself into dangerous mutations. ``Lambda`` infects bacteria particularly the E. coli bacterium. According to the study published in the Journal of Science www.sciencemag.org, natural selection promoted fixed mutations in the host (the E. coli bacterium) recognition protein that improved aptness on the original receptor and set the stage for other mutations to allow for infection through a new receptor.
In English lol--there is interplay between genomic (gene mapping) and ecological conditions that can and may favor evolutionary innovations of viruses. As more and more viruses emerge under our microscopes every year, only time will tell what these can eventually evolve into.
