3 ms·

So, she drank some of the water and is now postulating that it might have life in it? Uhm... well, I assume this article has been written so long since the eve

So, she drank some of the water and is now postulating that it might have life in it? Uhm... well, I assume this article has been written so long since the event happened that we know she didn't contract some terrible disease that mutated in there.

takluyver 13y ago
Anything able to live in there has never had a chance to infect any vertebrate, so it's unlikely that it would be able to infect a mammal. Mutation alone won't do the trick with no selective pressure for virulence.
- sukuriant 13y ago
  Agreed; though I could imagine some unfortunate situation where the cells of the creatures themselves are unusually sharp, for some selective-pressure reason, and able to withstand more acidic pH (it was in salt for a long, long time), and combined, those cause problems in a person, like asbestos but for the intestines. More biologically minded people would probably roll their eyes at my idea, but it's what went through my mind and wanted some input.
- Apocryphon 13y ago
  Suddenly, I am reminded of the Rifters trilogy by Peter Watts. Available free to read thanks to Creative Commons: http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm
bmelton 13y ago
I'm waiting to determine which comic book publishing house first co-opts this as the origin story for a new character. It's a toss-up right now between Dark Horse and Vertigo.
TheSOB88 13y ago
Doubtful it would have the proper proteins to invade a human body, considering nothing at all back then would need anything close.
chc 13y ago
AFAIK most lifeforms are not known to cause terrible diseases in humans.
chc 13y ago
Posting in hopes that TheSOB88 happens to read this: You appear to have been hellbanned. I'm not sure why, but all your comments for the last month or so are auto-killed. It happens to a lot of people for reasons that aren't entirely clear. You could try writing pg about it, but it would probably be easiest just to make a new account.
BHSPitMonkey 13y ago
On the bright side, that outcome would be scientifically interesting!
jonnathanson 13y ago
I'd be much more concerned about heavy/radioactive metals in the water than I would be about any possible microbes.

takluyver 13y ago

Anything able to live in there has never had a chance to infect any vertebrate, so it's unlikely that it would be able to infect a mammal. Mutation alone won't do the trick with no selective pressure for virulence.

sukuriant 13y ago
Agreed; though I could imagine some unfortunate situation where the cells of the creatures themselves are unusually sharp, for some selective-pressure reason, and able to withstand more acidic pH (it was in salt for a long, long time), and combined, those cause problems in a person, like asbestos but for the intestines. More biologically minded people would probably roll their eyes at my idea, but it's what went through my mind and wanted some input.
Apocryphon 13y ago
Suddenly, I am reminded of the Rifters trilogy by Peter Watts. Available free to read thanks to Creative Commons: http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm

bmelton 13y ago

I'm waiting to determine which comic book publishing house first co-opts this as the origin story for a new character. It's a toss-up right now between Dark Horse and Vertigo.

TheSOB88 13y ago

Doubtful it would have the proper proteins to invade a human body, considering nothing at all back then would need anything close.

chc 13y ago

AFAIK most lifeforms are not known to cause terrible diseases in humans.

chc 13y ago

Posting in hopes that TheSOB88 happens to read this: You appear to have been hellbanned. I'm not sure why, but all your comments for the last month or so are auto-killed. It happens to a lot of people for reasons that aren't entirely clear. You could try writing pg about it, but it would probably be easiest just to make a new account.

BHSPitMonkey 13y ago

On the bright side, that outcome would be scientifically interesting!

jonnathanson 13y ago

I'd be much more concerned about heavy/radioactive metals in the water than I would be about any possible microbes.