Researchers Spot And Manipulate Zombie Gene In Caterpillars

[standokan]

Still.. this doesn't rule a planet of apes out does it?

 

[Roofstone]

This seems... Unecesarry really..

 

[F'Angus]

This would make a really good bad movie.

 

[Hunter15]

everyone we must send away for a hero to deal with these researchers trying to make zombie Caterpillars. if we delay they may trun into ZOMBIE BUTTERFLIES!!!

 

[kannibus]

Time for a gut check and those 37 different zombie plans that I've got hidden in a safe...

 

[Alphakirby]

.. Huh, I wonder if the virus could be altered into something worse. I mean, these are just found only in caterpillars so what harm is there really? (Looks into the Article to see scientists are tweaking it for personal reasons). Crap. Now we have something to worry about.

Won't be long now until we're fighting off zombies. Get your weapons ready.

Seriously,just let the fucking virus kill the caterpillars,don't try to alter the virus damnit. One day they'll wind up fucking with the wrong thing and dooming us all to a zombie infested end.

 

[Lucane]

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

You know that this thing exists in nature, it isn't anything that scientists cooked up in a lab, right?
Also they figured out how to disable the actions it causes the victims to do, this is a positive thing.

Actually, this is linked to controlling the gypsy moth population, so blocking it would not benefit them or people. In New Mexico, they try to help control it by burning the fields at the beginning of every season. So, this hurts, not helps.

GO SCIENCE

I thought they were just experimenting with the virus,I didn't read anywhere here where they actually want to rid the world of the virus and let the caterpillars thrive without it they're trying to figure out how the virus works and maybe how to dictate it's actions maybe to a point to where it wouldn't even want to kill the caterpillars while still being able to spread it.(Which in my book would be pretty close to the Zombie infection model.Being that it would want to directly attack other Caterpillars instead of oozing on to them or their food.)

Edit:Besides in the event of an actual Zombie Outbreak science like this would be great if Zombification was a similar form of Virus if they could make it to where they could re-infect current zombies to not want to spread it or to not have a desire to eat/attack they could maybe at least make a serum for normal humans so if they become infected or right after they get bitten they curb their deserve to eat/spread it further as a preemptive measure leaving the number of violent infected to a constant to be reduced instead of a growing threat. Like normal and feral ghouls of Fallout perhaps.

 

[puffenstuff]

Dear Escapist,
Please stop responding to every science related story with "THE MAD SCIENTISTS ARE GOING TO KILL US!1!!!!!!"
It used to be funny but now it is not, especially in a climate where some people are unironically calling for research to be curtailed because of irrational fears about "going too far".

Sincerely,
Everyone who wants to live longer than current life expectancy.

 

[Angus565]

This would make a really good bad movie.

I was thinking the same thing. imagine, all the infected climb to the tops of buildings then explode gooey mess onto the streets below... But maybe instead of goo it's acid that would be way better!

 

[Taunta]

I fail to see how this is related to zombies, because the caterpillars die and stay quite dead.

Mind controlling virii aren't exactly new things. Anyone ever heard of rabies? Or, a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii? Toxoplasmosis lives and reproduces in the digestive systems of cats. When rats inspect cats' feces, the virus infects the rat and alters the brain so that the rat commits suicide by making itself being eaten by cats, therefore ensuring that the virus can reproduce once more.

Also, understanding this virus is going to lead to raising people from the dead? Kind of taking a big leap there, aren't you?

 

[FalloutJack]

To quote Fry: "is this going to be one of those experiments that crosses a line man was not meant to cross?"

Good news, everyone!

Actually...that's not good at all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to panic NOW so I can get it out of my system.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Oh well, time to memorize Dead Rising 2's combinations so i can go down while having fun.

 

[Reaper69lol]

Funny enough thats how T-Virus started. Only with leeches. brb stocking up on food, water and weapons.

 

[phantasmalWordsmith]

FOR SCIENCE!!!

Just keep the experiment in a controlled experiment and don't back down to crazy hippie protesters. Also, invest in a good security system

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

I more impressed with these zombies; http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/05/110511-zombies-ants-fungus-infection-spores-bite-noon-animals-science/

 

[TheDooD]

Hey science, slow down with this zombie / miracle drug w/ possible side effects / experimental stuff. It's like you haven't been keeping up with science fiction in the past 50 years, keep it simple and make it so it can't become weaponized by military crackpots.

 

[FinalHeart95]

It's difficult to be a zombie when you're a liquid.