HIV:The Virus That Discriminates By Race

[kptvol]

Has there ever been a recorded case in which someone contracted AIDS without first contracting HIV?

AIDS cannot be "contracted". If you have AIDS, there is something (most likely HIV) that is depleting your immune system.

 

[kptvol]

This answers my question. I do wonder why the adenine-rich RNA fragments were chosen to be part of the retrovirus and others weren't. I would think that some sort of logic was used at the time. But, if only these fragments are used for PCR without proper justification, then I can see why there would be questions as to whether or not HIV has been fully isolated. I'm not a biologist...so perhaps I am completely confused about the matter .

RNA-to-DNA is a very flawed process, which is why HIV is so variable. The transcription has lots and lots of errors. I'm guessing that influenced the selection. Perhaps these adenosine segments are the most common from strain to strain. As in, they are the least likely to be drastically altered by mutation.

 

[TennTradition]

RNA-to-DNA is a very flawed process, which is why HIV is so variable. The transcription has lots and lots of errors. I'm guessing that influenced the selection. Perhaps these adenosine segments are the most common from strain to strain. As in, they are the least likely to be drastically altered by mutation.

Cool...thanks (Man...I'm glad I took a bio class a few years ago...none of this would have made sense before then...we didn't do a ton of HIV stuff though...one prof was a cancer expert and the other was a development expert....)