Bringing Back the Black Death

Dr. Cheese · #1 10-13-2011, 07:09 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/sc...ml?ref=science

I can understand the rationale for research, but this is a bit scary.

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 10-13-2011, 07:32 AM

The scientist in me thinks that it shouldn't be a realistic concern. The control in facilities handling such material is insanely strict (I've been around a class 3 facility that deals with african trypanosomiasis, and anything dealing with something like this would be far stricter).

But part of me can't help but think of Stephen Kings "The Stand" !

Gopherbassist · #3 10-13-2011, 04:52 PM

Uh, what? Black Death is still a living disease. There are outbreaks of it every year. Heck, norther Arizona get plague on something like a 12 year timetable. There's no need to bring it back when it's still here.

Bloodhammer · #4 10-13-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

Uh, what? Black Death is still a living disease. There are outbreaks of it every year. Heck, norther Arizona get plague on something like a 12 year timetable. There's no need to bring it back when it's still here.

Quote:

The modern plague bacterium changes its DNA units slowly, but it does quite often rearrange the order of its genes. Some experts believe gene order can affect pathogenicity. Dr. Krause had available only tiny fragments of DNA, so although he was able to reconstruct all the medieval bacterium’s genes he could not establish the exact order in which the genes were arranged, leaving open the possibility that the bacterium was inherently more pathogenic because its genome was differently organized.

.

MakiSupaStar · #5 10-13-2011, 05:06 PM

Isn't this the beginning of a science fiction Armageddon zombie flick?

MatticusMania · #6 10-13-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Isn't this the beginning of a science fiction Armageddon zombie flick?

The Stand

DeathFromBelow · #7 10-13-2011, 05:18 PM

WE'RE DOOMED!

Bloodhammer · #8 10-13-2011, 05:30 PM

Let's hope so. It'll put and end to the political threads pretty quick.

MakiSupaStar · #9 10-13-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodhammer

Let's hope so. It'll put and end to the political threads pretty quick.

We don't need no black death to kill threads, we got Pacman.

Phil Smith · #10 10-13-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/sc...ml?ref=science

I can understand the rationale for research, but this is a bit scary.

I don't think it's scary at all because this isn't 1348 and in 2011 we do not live in a world devoid of modern medication and modern sanitation. Now if all that infrastructure breaks down as in the Haitian earthquake, all bets are off.

Phil Smith · #11 10-13-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

We don't need no black death to kill threads, we got Pacman.

Thread death, kills thread, and yeah, that Pacman, he be spread'n that.

Muaguana · #12 10-13-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

I don't think it's scary at all because this isn't 1348 and in 2011 we do not live in a world devoid of modern medication and modern sanitation.

+1. I think it's fascinating that they were able to reconstruct the bacterium's genome from 650+ year old human teeth. This whole "This is The Stand come to life!" attitude is silly at best; the article repeatedly mentions that, if the reconstructed bacteria were to somehow infect people, it would be susceptible to antibiotics. And as another poster mentioned, facilities used to store such hazardous materials are maintained to ridiculous safety standards, and have procedures in place to counter the release of any specimens.

i_got_a_mohawk · #13 10-13-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

I don't think it's scary at all because this isn't 1348 and in 2011 we do not live in a world devoid of modern medication and modern sanitation. Now if all that infrastructure breaks down as in the Haitian earthquake, all bets are off.

While these things do matter and reduce the spread, it isn't unrealistic at all to think that if something which is highly contagious, which our immune systems don't respond well to, popped up, we could be in some major do-do.

Heck, less than 100 years back we had a major outbreak that killed millions.

Even with modern medicine, microbes have the potential to be more dangerous than many realise! (even look at the number of strains appearing that are immune to treatments, even easily treated infections are starting to become more immune to standard treatments).

Chances of anything happening? Tiny. But the respect for these things still needs to be kept in place

burk48237 · #14 10-13-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

We don't need no black death to kill threads, we got Pacman.

Maybe that should be his new nickname "The Black Death of OT"

sandmangeck · #15 10-13-2011, 06:33 PM

I think it's interesting.

**bassybill** · #16 10-13-2011, 06:46 PM

Working out the genome and recreating the organism are hugely different things. They ain't there yet, not by a long way. Even the Jurassic Park guys didn't work this bit out.

But yes - this sort of work needs a careful approach. Buboes are definitely not good news in any circumstances.

Phil Smith · #17 10-13-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

While these things do matter and reduce the spread, it isn't unrealistic at all to think that if something which is highly contagious, which our immune systems don't respond well to, popped up, we could be in some major do-do.

Heck, less than 100 years back we had a major outbreak that killed millions.

Even with modern medicine, microbes have the potential to be more dangerous than many realise! (even look at the number of strains appearing that are immune to treatments, even easily treated infections are starting to become more immune to standard treatments).

Chances of anything happening? Tiny. But the respect for these things still needs to be kept in place

My answer still holds for 100 years ago, you think we had modern medicine and sanitation 100 years ago? Many of the vaccines weren't even invented then and some of the organisms not even isolated.

Time Monkey · #18 10-13-2011, 07:30 PM

sounds like a new death angel album that no one wants.

Dr. Cheese · #19 10-13-2011, 07:47 PM

I think all of us know enough about modern science and medicine that we are not worried about a replay what happened in the 14th century. Still, I think many of us have seen enough movies that the scenario of an out of control disease is still in the back of our minds. Like so many things in the modern world, the safety advances never completely remove the ancient urge to be just a little wary.

BurningSkies · #20 10-13-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

Uh, what? Black Death is still a living disease. There are outbreaks of it every year. Heck, norther Arizona get plague on something like a 12 year timetable. There's no need to bring it back when it's still here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Working out the genome and recreating the organism are hugely different things. They ain't there yet, not by a long way. Even the Jurassic Park guys didn't work this bit out.

But yes - this sort of work needs a careful approach. Buboes are definitely not good news in any circumstances.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I think all of us know enough about modern science and medicine that we are not worried about a replay what happened in the 14th century. Still, I think many of us have seen enough movies that the scenario of an out of control disease is still in the back of our minds. Like so many things in the modern world, the safety advances never completely remove the ancient urge to be just a little wary.

in the 1300's there was no medical science. Antibiotics didn't exist. If even a modicum of understanding of how diseases were transmitted, basic hygiene, etc. were known then the plague would have been an un-issue. If the 'old' plague were introduced in it's 'ancient' form now its easily suppressible.