Posted by Todd (216.199.5.108) on February 19, 2000 at 21:14:38:
In Reply to: And...why wouldn't we all be chronic? posted by Nancy on February 19, 2000 at 20:58:12:
But what I do know of viri is that they have this incredible ability to reproduce, mutate, travel and so on. Call it an extremely well-defined sense of self-preservation.
I'm not dismissing your theory either, because I think you're right in the virus-like behaviors, to a point. Herpes is a good example...goes into periods of dormancy for no apparent reason. But, that's an exception. Most viri don't behave that way. Plus, I'd think that with all the test all the ch'rs have had over the years, a virus would have shown up in a blood test by now.
Next, add in the transfer factor. Viri seem hell-bent on spreading their misery around, yet we have no evidence whatsoever that any one of us has ever infected anyone we have been around.
If you want to keep thinking along these lines, try this-symbiotic parasite. Won't kill the host, because it's self-defeating. Happy to stick around with no real desire to expand it's host base.
My money's still on the hypothalmus and seratonin aspects, but I'm keeping an open mind.
KTSSUATBIG,
T