Are lockdowns justified?

[FlatAssembler]

Donald Trump said that COVID-19 will disappear naturally. And, when you think about that, thinking that does not appear so silly. In fact, it seems to me that, if you apply the knowledge of high-school biology, that is what you would expect. So I want to know why it is wrong, exactly. Which logical fallacy are both Donald Trump and I committing when thinking about whether it is to be expected that COVID-19 disappears naturally?

Did small pox disappear naturally?  What would make you think that as long as a virus/germ/bacteria has a host it will just magically disappear?

Really not the same thing. Again, smallpox is a DNA virus, so it is not nearly as prone to mutation. Furthermore, smallpox had very closely related viruses with which it could presumably (I haven't checked it) mate (cowpox...) to reduce the impact of those mutations. No virus closely related to COVID-19 attacks humans so that COVID-19 can mate with it.

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Donald Trump said that COVID-19 will disappear naturally. And, when you think about that, thinking that does not appear so silly. In fact, it seems to me that, if you apply the knowledge of high-school biology, that is what you would expect. So I want to know why it is wrong, exactly. Which logical fallacy are both Donald Trump and I committing when thinking about whether it is to be expected that COVID-19 disappears naturally?

What comes to mind is yours and his ignorance of science.

So, if you are less ignorant of science, answer my question. Why didn't COVID-19 die from inbreeding after jumping from bats to humans?

[arewethereyet]

I am done with you and this inane thread.

[Foxaèr]

If Trump asked, Why are cats called felines when lions go roar?, you can guarantee an automobile assembler is going to make an ass out of himself.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Did small pox disappear naturally?  What would make you think that as long as a virus/germ/bacteria has a host it will just magically disappear?

Really not the same thing. Again, smallpox is a DNA virus, so it is not nearly as prone to mutation. Furthermore, smallpox had very closely related viruses with which it could presumably (I haven't checked it) mate (cowpox...) to reduce the impact of those mutations. No virus closely related to COVID-19 attacks humans so that COVID-19 can mate with it.

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What comes to mind is yours and his ignorance of science.

So, if you are less ignorant of science, answer my question. Why didn't COVID-19 die from inbreeding after jumping from bats to humans?

Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense. They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue. Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it. HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.

Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.

Boru

[Angrboda]

Really not the same thing. Again, smallpox is a DNA virus, so it is not nearly as prone to mutation. Furthermore, smallpox had very closely related viruses with which it could presumably (I haven't checked it) mate (cowpox...) to reduce the impact of those mutations. No virus closely related to COVID-19 attacks humans so that COVID-19 can mate with it.

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So, if you are less ignorant of science, answer my question. Why didn't COVID-19 die from inbreeding after jumping from bats to humans?

Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense. They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue. Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it. HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.

Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.

Boru

You have more patience than I do. You are a gentleman and a scowler.

[Anomalocaris]

Did small pox disappear naturally?  What would make you think that as long as a virus/germ/bacteria has a host it will just magically disappear?

Really not the same thing. Again, smallpox is a DNA virus, so it is not nearly as prone to mutation. Furthermore, smallpox had very closely related viruses with which it could presumably (I haven't checked it) mate (cowpox...) to reduce the impact of those mutations. No virus closely related to COVID-19 attacks humans so that COVID-19 can mate with it.

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What comes to mind is yours and his ignorance of science.

So, if you are less ignorant of science, answer my question. Why didn't COVID-19 die from inbreeding after jumping from bats to humans?

Virus reproduce in a manner of speaking, but they don’t breed.  Hence they don’t in-breed.    They are not like you or Donald trump.

Also, inbreeding would potentially be a problem amongst breeders only if the genome is larger than a certain size and carry different versions of genes for many different proteins, and potential for certain genes to be expressed or repressed,   Organisms with very simple genomes wouldn’t have the room to suffer harmful effects from inbreeding.    So I doubt inbreeding can do yours or The Donald ‘s line much harm.

[FlatAssembler]

Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense.

If two viruses infect the same cell, they do breed, in the same sense as bacteria conjugating is breeding, right?

They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue.

But... self-replication is even worse than inbreeding. Self-replication means all harmful mutations that existed in the parent will exist in offspring, whereas inbreeding means at least some of them probably won't.

Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it.

Moving from one specie to another means entering an eco-system where nobody of your specie, or probably even a closely-related specie, exist.

HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.

I do not understand what you mean.

Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.

This makes about as much sense as saying that, since female turkeys (or bees...) do not need males to procreate, turkey as a specie could survive even if all males were killed. No, self-replication leads to harmful mutation building up even more so than inbreeding does.

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Virus reproduce in a manner of speaking, but they don’t breed.

They breed when they infect the same cell. At least in the sense that bacteria breed when they conjugate.

Hence they don’t in-breed.

Of course they do. Or do you think in-breeding cannot happen in bacteria when they conjugate? If so, why?

They are not like you or Donald trump.

Right, they are like turkeys or bees or bacteria. Some reproduction can be done without breeding. But a specie cannot be sustaned that way due to the build-up of harmful mutations.

Also, inbreeding would potentially be a problem amongst breeders only if the genome is larger than a certain size

Why?

carry different versions of genes for many different proteins

Correct me if I am wrong, but bacteria also do not.

and potential for certain genes to be expressed or repressed

Why?

Organisms with very simple genomes wouldn’t have the room to suffer harmful effects from inbreeding.

Why? If anything, they should be even more vulnerable to it.

So I doubt inbreeding can do yours or The Donald ‘s line much harm.

I am not sure what you mean.

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If Trump asked, Why are cats called felines when lions go roar?, you can guarantee an automobile assembler is going to make an ass out of himself.

What do you mean? Do you mean that I unconditionally accept anything Donald Trump says? Not at all.

[Abaddon_ire]

Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense.

If two viruses infect the same cell, they do breed, in the same sense as bacteria conjugating is breeding, right?

Two viruses enter a cell? Why two? Viruses replicate without interacting with other viruses. What did you think? There are boy viruses and girl viruses? And they only replicate if there are two or more present? Do they have a dating website someplace?

That is one of the most fucked up displays of ignorance I have seen in some time.

Oh, and bacteria do not "conjugate to breed" wherever that idiocy came from. You may as well say you think babies are delivered by storks.

They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue.

But... self-replication is even worse than inbreeding. Self-replication means all harmful mutations that existed in the parent will exist in offspring, whereas inbreeding means at least some of them probably won't.

It is the single most successful reproduction strategy that we know of. Or at least everyone on the planet with the exception of you, somehow.

Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it.

Moving from one specie to another means entering an eco-system where nobody of your specie, or probably even a closely-related specie, exist.

That is idiotic. One virus is all one needs if a suitable home is available. Given suitable conditions, a single virus can create billions of copies astonishingly quickly.

HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.

I do not understand what you mean.

Yep you got that right. There is not much you understand.

Ever heard of mitochondrial eve? That whole concept would probably explode your brain.

Fact is, we humans have a severe lack of genetic diversity. The fact that we have survived demonstrates that we have had inbreeding. Lots of it. For thousands of years.

Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.

This makes about as much sense as saying that, since female turkeys (or bees...) do not need males to procreate, turkey as a specie could survive even if all males were killed. No, self-replication leads to harmful mutation building up even more so than inbreeding does.

Oh good grief.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense. They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue. Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it. HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.

Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.

Boru

You have more patience than I do.  You are a gentleman and a scowler.

Yes, I’m known for my patience. Which is why I’m still speaking to you.

Boru

[Angrboda]

You have more patience than I do.  You are a gentleman and a scowler.

Yes, I’m known for my patience. Which is why I’m still speaking to you.

Boru

I'm known for my patience as well.