BIOL 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Rna Virus, Zoonosis, Immunodeficiency
Document Summary
Retrovirus: rna virus that is made into dna and then embeds itself in the genome of cells it affects. Aids is the syndrome that asserts itself when hiv infects the body. Siv in chimpanzees: sequenced the rna in both human and chimpanzee siv and compared the results. Does lead to immune deficiency (ie, aids like symptoms in chimps) Scientists first assumed it did not, but a close look at mortality rates in population gombe showed that wasnt true. Chimpanzees: closely related species to humans (98. 8% identical) In the process of accidentally butchering an animal, blood is transmitted from chimpanzee to human. We are not descended from chimpanzees, that is not what the theory of evolution says. Theory of evolution: organisms are all descendants of a common ancestor. Zoonosis does not have to come from closely related species. Hiv cannot survive outside of body fluids. Hiv infection works best with blood to blood contact.
