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Over the long run, natural selection is part of it. If a virus kills prevents reproduction through any mechanism, then resistance to the virus will be selected.
by asdfasgasdgasdg 7y ago
Over the long run, natural selection is part of it. If a virus kills prevents reproduction through any mechanism, then resistance to the virus will be selected.
- qqqqquinnnnn 7y agoyeah that's an interesting point - resistance can have something to do with simply not having the right receptor on your cell surfaces and little to do with your immune system
- asdfasgasdgasdg 7y agoWell, you can select a more efficient immune system too. I wouldn't say it's one thing and not the other.
- qqqqquinnnnn 7y agointerestingly, a more effective immune system can often be a bad thing. have you heard about "cytokine storms" as a mechanism for why the mortality rate is much higher is certain groups? that's the immune system eating the host, basically
- asdfasgasdgasdg 7y agoI don't think there is consensus that this is the main problem with this virus. Cytokine storms have been cited as the cause of death when a virus disproportionately strikes folks in their 20s and 30s when the immune system is strongest. On balance tho a stronger immune system seems to be better.