Solanum as Prions
Sean Michael Ragan of the University of Texas at Austin has published an exciting new paper in the Journal of Zombie Science (6: 2005, 1519-1523) entitled "Etiology of Romero-Fulci Disease: The Case for Prions".
Ragan makes his case by arguing, contra Brooks, that Solanum is not, in fact, a virus but a disease caused by Prions and is thus more similar to Mad Cow Disease than AIDS.
I should note here that Ragan wants to throw out the "Solanum hypothesis" altogether since it is seen as such an inadequate explanation of the pertinent facts of RFD. I contend that even if Ragan is correct he would be wrong in throwing out the term "Solanum" purely because it isn't a virus. The term "Solanum" (correct me if I'm wrong on my history here, but I don't think I am) originally refered to a genus of plant that contains potatos and eggplants. It then was applied to that disease which brings about zombification, but does not contain anything in its definition that necessitates its being only applied to viruses. If this is the case then whether the disease is a mutation of ebola or an as-of-yet-undiscovered Prion is entirely irrelevant. The term Solanum can and should be used to reference the disease itself, not the organism which causes it. If Ragan is correct in his assessment, then Solanum should become the new name of that Prion.
Anyone interested in the technical side of zombological research should study this paper with vigor. If proven true this paper represents the biggest breakthrough in zombological research in probably 30 years.
Ragan makes his case by arguing, contra Brooks, that Solanum is not, in fact, a virus but a disease caused by Prions and is thus more similar to Mad Cow Disease than AIDS.
I should note here that Ragan wants to throw out the "Solanum hypothesis" altogether since it is seen as such an inadequate explanation of the pertinent facts of RFD. I contend that even if Ragan is correct he would be wrong in throwing out the term "Solanum" purely because it isn't a virus. The term "Solanum" (correct me if I'm wrong on my history here, but I don't think I am) originally refered to a genus of plant that contains potatos and eggplants. It then was applied to that disease which brings about zombification, but does not contain anything in its definition that necessitates its being only applied to viruses. If this is the case then whether the disease is a mutation of ebola or an as-of-yet-undiscovered Prion is entirely irrelevant. The term Solanum can and should be used to reference the disease itself, not the organism which causes it. If Ragan is correct in his assessment, then Solanum should become the new name of that Prion.
Anyone interested in the technical side of zombological research should study this paper with vigor. If proven true this paper represents the biggest breakthrough in zombological research in probably 30 years.
posted by wheelz at 3:12 PM
2 Comments:
Solanum Virus is actually a virus that affects potatoes:
http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr639.htm
Also, according to the survival against zombies poll, weapons are definitely important, but without water, a human will die quicker without water than trying to hide from zombies for long periods of time.
Read the Zombie Survival guild again I guess. And Prepare I guess.
Post a Comment
<< Home