Researchers Spot And Manipulate Zombie Gene In Caterpillars

[Formica Archonis]

And I'm having flashbacks to those parasites that Lovely family [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucochloridium_paradoxum] of fungi, that one is. (This article also mentions Gordian worms, that prey on crickets.)

(Links probably not safe for the squeamish.)

 

[DanDeFool]

Now that the researchers have figured out how to tweak the virus, it's only a matter of time before they figure out how to make it bring its victims back from the dead after they've expired. After that, we can all look forward to living through our very own George Romero movie.

... Right?

Well... no. You might be able to get them to keep moving after they're half-dead. but reviving the dead is like trying to start your car after you've removed all the fasteners from the engine block. A virus has to hijack living cells; it can't do anything with cells that are already dead.

Now, if you wanted to genetically engineer some type of symbiotic organism that reconstructed some kind of primitive CNS inside a corpse that jump-started what tissues were still partially functional and got them working, that might be a better idea. But hey, one step at a time.

 

[Yopaz]

Honestly, this isn't surprising to me. This sort of thing has existed for about as long as life itself. For example, there is a fungus that, once it infects an ant, will work it's way into the ants brain and nervous system. As soon as it is entrenched within, it will cause the ant to seek out other ants and cause the ant to have an urge to climb to a high point near by. Once in position, a stalk of the fungus will grow out of the back of the ants head and release a spray of spores that rain down on any other ants in the area. Then, the cycle repeats.

This fungus has been around for so long that many of the ant colonies that are confronted with it actually know how to deal with it. They'll often send another ant to carry the infected one to a location far from the colony. (which often ends up being a suicidal "mission")

However, I will say that I'm glad those researchers were able to identify and single out the aspect of the virus that activates the gene that causes that behavior in the gypsy months. Discoveries like this are a big step towards figuring out how to, say, shut off cancer cells or cure a plethora of other genetic diseases.

GO SCIENCE!!

And here it is.

What we learned when it comes to controlling the brain of an insect is that it doesn't take much. This fungi does it by penetrating a certain part of the brain which make the brain function change. This fungus is also the one used to create the medicines required to make a successful organ transplant.

So if some freakish accident happens and people contract a mutant version of this virus..


LEEEAAVVVEESSSS......

(the plants are REALLY screwed now)

Because the step between an insect host and a animal host is microscopical. As mentioned above the insect brain is a lot simpler than ours. It has been specialized to work this way for a long time, so it wont suddenly jump to a whole new strategy of spreading.

 

[iLikeHippos]

That's kind of awesome. Almost as awesome as the witch doctors reviving his dead comrades back to life, for farming chores and other menial tasks.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well I was enjoying my ice cream until I started reading this article. I got up to the part with the liquifying before I had to stop.

-several minutes later, after reading the article-

So, it looks like it is time to go plant some sunflowers on my lawn!

Ha! Way ahead of you, I got shrooms all over the place already.

I do wonder how long it will take before a government weapons contractor starts throwing money at these guys.

 

[ultrachicken]

Dear researchers: Please quit messing with nature before you kill us all.
Sincerely, everyone who wants to live.

I think nature wants to kill us, anyways. Might as well go down swinging.

Also, misleading title is misleading.

 

[Dogstile]

Its not exactly a zombie gene. Also, hasn't fungus been doing this for a long time?

 

[Manchubot]

Well... pic related is related.. but it isn't really zombie, because they kinda die right?

I think it's more related to the mind-controlling virus that wants to spread the infection rather than the reanimated dead part of zombie mythos.

I think it's kinda more like the 28 days later zombies where they weren't exactly dead just infectious and set to kill mode.

 

[ryo02]

Well... pic related is related.. but it isn't really zombie, because they kinda die right?

I think it's more related to the mind-controlling virus that wants to spread the infection rather than the reanimated dead part of zombie mythos.

I think it's kinda more like the 28 days later zombies where they weren't exactly dead just infectious and set to kill mode.

oh great so its probably fast zombies I hate fast zombies T_T ... oh well

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

...BRB. Going to go buy myself a house up in the Yukon.

I'm NOT sitting around and waiting for the zombies to come!

...But honestly, this is pretty interesting. Weird virus...

 

[Knusper]

This sounds like something Aperture would do. Although it does sound pretty cool, we're screwed all the same.

 

[The Great JT]

No, science! No manipulating the zombie gene! We don't want zombies on the lawn!

 

[funguy2121]

Dear researchers: Please quit messing with nature before you kill us all.
Sincerely, everyone who wants to live.

Dear internets: please quit calling everything the heralding of the apocalypse, especially when you haven't read it.

Oh no, scientists have discovered a germ! Now we all gonna die!

Also, I guess I'll take on bubble-bursting duty today for the many many Escapists out there who have no sense of irony:

Zombies.

Don't.

And.

Won't.

Ever.

Exist.

 

[TilMorrow]

I'm not sure if it's actually zombish but... Made me think how long till DR's zombie wasps? [sub]I'd say not likely at all[/sub]

 

[Schmittler]

Researchers Spot And Manipulate Zombie Gene In Caterpillars

Did you know there's actually a virus that controls caterpillars as it kills them? It's true: Out in the wild, there's a baculovirus that controls gypsy moth populations by causing causes them to spread the infection even as it's liquifying their insides. Not only that, but a group of researches recently identified the gene in the virus that makes the dictates the insects' actions and figured out how to deactivate it.



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Small typo in that paragraph.

OT: That sounds pretty frightening. I want to see a slasher movie made!

 

[AdamG3691]

wasn't the nanomachines version of this the EXACT reason those terrorists in mexico bombed that lab?

seriously, stop fucking scaremongering, you mock Fox for saying videogames mind control people or some shit, and then you print a story about a virus that will turn all the caterpillars on earth into zombies

 

[Torrasque]

Oh science, how I love you for your fascinating advances to everyday life, yet fear you for the horrible horrible things you can "accidentally" do.

 

[Torrasque]

wasn't the nanomachines version of this the EXACT reason those terrorists in mexico bombed that lab?

seriously, stop fucking scaremongering, you mock Fox for saying videogames mind control people or some shit, and then you print a story about a virus that will turn all the caterpillars on earth into zombies

Except the OP isn't scaremongering, he's making light of the article through sarcasm and jokes.
I love this style of writing that most of the Escapist writers have, where they can provide the facts, yet throw in their two cents about the article they are covering. They are rarely serious when covering a non-serious article.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

that controls gypsy moth populations by *causing causes* them to spread the infection
the virus that *makes the dictates the insects' actions* and figured out how to deactivate it.

It's called editing, or, just reading what you typed

OT; Not really interesting. How about the old news that there are parasites that cause FISH to swim up to predators, so it can reproduce in those birds' insides? Fish are way more evolved than caterpillars...

 

[VladG]

There's a similar thing that infects cats . Toxoplasmosis is not an uncommon disease that can transmit to humans and rats as well . Basically it makes rats love the smell of cat urine (where normally they would run away from it, because it means there's a cat around) after being infected, they actively seek out cats. Cats eat the infected rats, drop out infected poop, rats find poop, etc. Very scary and very kick-ass if you ask me. Also it seems to affect male birth rates for some reason (as in a person infected has a much higher likelihood of birthing boys). Again, very kick-ass little bugger.

It is also theorized that it might cause the "crazy cat lady" effect in humans. Basically people who like cats more than you'd think it's normal to like them are very likely infected by it.