| Welcome to Zatalounge Zatalounge is a chat forum provided for those who wish to present their personal views, opinions, or insights on all sorts of topics. Everyone has an opinion and they don't always agree. This website seeks to promote differences of opinion and discussions among users so that everyone gets to have their say. Become a registered member or be our guest. It's your choice! |
| End of common cold in sight? | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 5 2015, 12:24 PM (124 Views) | |
| Guest | Feb 5 2015, 12:24 PM Post #1 |
|
Unregistered
|
A scientific breakthrough could herald an end to the common cold, after researchers found a way to “jam” the genetic code and stop the virus replicating. Experts said the discovery could allow scientists to design molecules which could “stop the virus in its tracks” - fending off colds and winter vomiting disease. Scientists from the Universities of Leeds and York used a computer-based model to identify a code in the viral genome, which causes rhinoviruses, the most common group of viruses, and the cause of most colds. They said the breakthrough means that in future, it could be possible to find a way to jam the messages conveyed by the molecules, stopping the virus functioning before disease even starts. The breakthrough could save future generations from the misery of colds, and protect them from more serious illnesses. However, that day could be some time off, with trials on animal viruses required before scientists are able to develop a drug which acts on the signals in the genetic code. Experts said the findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition, could help to protect people from a large group of infectious viruses. The computer research found a code hidden within the sequence of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the virus. Professor Peter Stockley, Professor of Biological Chemistry in the University of Leeds’ Faculty of Biological Sciences, who led the study, likened the discovery to an “Enigma machine” allowing experts to see how viruses are deployed. He said: “We have shown that not only can we read these messages but we can jam them and stop the virus’ deployment.” Dr Roman Tuma, Reader in Biophysics at the University of Leeds, said: “We have understood for decades that the RNA carries the genetic messages that create viral proteins, but we didn’t know that, hidden within the stream of letters we use to denote the genetic information, is a second code governing virus assembly. “It is like finding a secret message within an ordinary news report and then being able to crack the whole coding system behind it. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11390786/End-of-common-cold-could-be-in-sight.html Don't know how to feel about stories like this anymore, would like to think they are true but why print this stuff if it is a long way off? Title edited by webbie Edited by Tybee, Feb 5 2015, 12:42 PM.
|
|
|
| Tybee | Feb 5 2015, 12:43 PM Post #2 |
|
I sometimes think they make these claims known so far in advance as little more than advertisements in hopes it will generate more funding, and in hopes that many years later when nothing they've claimed would happen has happened few people will remember. |
![]() |
|
| Guest | Feb 5 2015, 01:40 PM Post #3 |
|
Unregistered
|
But what about the uncommon variety? |
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · General Discussion · Next Topic » |






3:16 AM Jul 11