Some advocate stockpiling the drug Tamiflu in the event of an influenza pandemic. Others point out that wealthy, Western nations would have an unfair advantage because developing nations (where the pandemic is most likely to start) would not have access to this expensive antiviral. Furthermore, some fear that indiscriminate use of the drug would promote the evolution of resistant flu strains. Given these caveats, do you think developed nations should stockpile Tamiflu for the protection and treatment of their citizens? Explain your answer

Some advocate stockpiling the drug Tamiflu in the event of an influenza pandemic. Others point out that wealthy, Western nations would have an unfair advantage because developing nations (where the pandemic is most likely to start) would not have access to this expensive antiviral. Furthermore, some fear that indiscriminate use of the drug would promote the evolution of resistant flu strains. Given these caveats, do you think developed nations should stockpile Tamiflu for the protection and treatment of their citizens? Explain your answer

Name: Some advocate stockpiling the drug Tamiflu in the event of an influenz
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Description: Some advocate stockpiling the drug Tamiflu in the event of an influenza pandemic. Others point out that wealthy, Western nations would have an unfair advantage because developing nations (where the pandemic is most likely to start) would not have acc

Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)

5th Edition

ISBN:9781305117396

Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr

Publisher:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr

Chapter10: Biotechnology

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 2CT

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In 1918, an influenza pandemic that originated with avian flu killed 50 million people. Researchers isolated samples of that virus from bodies of infected people preserved in Alaskan permafrost since 1918. From the samples, they sequenced the viral genome, then reconstructed the virus. The reconstructed virus is 39,000 times more infectious than modern influenza strains, and 100 percent lethal in mice. Understanding how this virus works can help us defend ourselves against other deadly influenza strains that arise. For example, discovering what makes it so infectious would help researchers design more effective vaccines. Critics of the research are concerned: If the virus escapes the containment facilities (even though it has not done so yet), it might cause another pandemic. Worse, terrorists could use the published DNA sequence and methods to make the virus for horrific purposes. Do you think this research makes us more or less safe?
In 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of bacteriophage preparation that can be used on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products to kill Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis. Some people may have concerns about the use of phages in foods. From what you have learned about bacteriophages and viruses, why do you think we do not have to be concerned about the presence of bacteriophages in food?
Why do scientists worry more about new strains of viruses like influenza and coronviruses as potential causes of deadly human pandemics, but they never talk about the next big Herpesvirus strain deadly pandemic? Which of the statements below helps partially answer that? Influenza and CoV are RNA viruses which results in having higher mutation rates -- they can more easily jump between host species. Herpesviruses are dsDNA viruses and usually very host specific. Only humans get Herpesviruses, while animals can get Influenza viruses and Coronaviruses. dsDNA viruses aren't very transmissible and even when they are, they're not deadly. We already have effective vaccines for Herpes. Influenza and CoV have more genes, more complex gene expression, and can undergo genetic recombination or reassortment, while Herpesviruses are more limited.
Each year, hundreds of millions of people get sick from diseases like Zika, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever that are spread by mosquitoes. Some scientists are investigating the possibility of curbing these mosquito-borne diseases by genetically modifying the mosquitoes, such that they become less able to either reproduce or to carry the disease-causing microbes. Should genetically modified mosquitoes be released into the environment to combat these viruses?
What actions described in the video do you think are similar to the COVID-19 threat today and why? What efforts by the government or other officials actually made the 1918 pandemic worse? Are any of these same actions occurring today? What is most shocking to you about the events described in the video about the 1918 pandemic? Are any of those shocking events now occurring in a similar way in response to COVID-19?
Assume you are studying the infection dynamics between a species of spider and a species of ringworm that infects the spider. You sequence the genomes of each species for 30 years and find that each of these species has evolved adaptations. Specifically, the spider has evolved immune system adaptations to remove the ringworm and the ringworm has evolved counter-adaptations to evade the spider's immune system. Surprisingly, you find that the ability of the ringworm to infect the spider has not changed over 30 years. The finding that infectiousness has not changed in 30 years would be in support of which of the following? a. The Red Queen Hypothesis b. Muller's Ratchet c. The Asexual Reproduction Benefit Hypothesis d. The Genetic Load Hypothesis
Do you see any potential problems with inserting pieces of a retroviral genome into humans? If so, are there ways to combat or prevent these problems? (You may want to look up the definition of a retrovirus.) Explain your answer.
The Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), is an HIV-like virus that originally attacks the immune system of monkeys and apes. In 1999, researchers identified a strain of chimpanzee SIV called SIVcpz, which was nearly identical to HIV. Which of the following conclusions could be drawn from the similarities and relatedness that exist between humans and primates based on respective strains of viruses? Mosquitos are vectors of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), and HIV. Once injected with their proboscis and introduced viruses into the human bloodstream, viral mutations occur. Human immunodeficiency virus has reverse transcriptase so it is easier for them to transform into another strain of the virus. The introduction of new viral strains is inevitable and they do not possess selectivity. Both immune host cells from humans and chimpanzees are susceptible to any viral infection. Humans and Chimpanzees were similar so it is easier for the Simian Immunodeficiency…
Suppose that a time machine allows you to go back in time (and to travel to Australia), and you have collected rabbits and Myxoma from the years 1955 and 1980. Once you are back in the twenty-first century, you infect both sets of rabbits with both sets of Myxoma viruses. The most likely result will be (1) that the rabbits from 1955 injected with the 1955 virus will have a _______ survival rate than those same rabbits injected with the 1980 virus; and (2) that the rabbits from 1955 injected with the 1980 virus will have a _______ survival rate than rabbits from 1980 injected with the 1980 virus. A. lower; lower B. lower; higher C. higher; lower D. higher; higher E. the survival rates will be the same in experiments (1) and (2)
Understanding how this virus works can help us defend ourselves against other deadly influenza strains that arise. Critics of the research are concerned: If the virus escapes the containment facilities (even though it has not done so yet), it might cause another pandemic. Worse, terrorists could use the published DNA sequence and methods to make the virus for horrific purposes. Do you think this research makes us more or less safe?
The evolutionary tree of HIV-1 revels that a.) The SIV strain that infects gorillas is the same strain that infects chimpanzees. b.) HIV is a monophyletic clade that originated from the same strain of SIV. c.) All of the answers are correct d.) The virus jumped from chimpanzees to humans four times. E.) western chimpanzees are more closely related to gorillas than eastern chimpanzees.
What is the relationship between pandemics and evolution? Use the word: mutation