HIV as you've never seen it before(newscientist.com)

57 pointsby kingsidharthvor 15 Jahren13 comments

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/02/hiv-as-youve-never-seen-it-before.html

13 comments

That looks very complex for a structure. Are other viruses this elaborate in structure?

I have very limited knowledge of biology.

Palomidesvor 15 Jahren

HIV is fairly large and complicated for a virus.

chopsueyarvor 15 Jahren

I just read on wikipedia about SIVcpz. Do you know if its structure is of similar complexity?

mfukarvor 15 Jahren

Am I the only one who thinks that actually looked creepy?

nborgovor 15 Jahren

The creepiness probably has more to do with their color choice and cut out triangle than the shape of it. Their model makes it look more sinister than a ball with ribbons taped on to it.

For me, though, it gets disturbing when you think about how many people are killed by what's on your screen.

angus77vor 15 Jahren

I thought it looked cuddly.

lmkgvor 15 Jahren

I wouldn't use the word "cuddly" to describe it, but the texture did remind me of a plush doll.

simcop2387vor 15 Jahren

speaking of HIV and plush :) http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/hiv.html

My ex got me one of those as a joke.

rokhayakebevor 15 Jahren

I did not downvote you, but man, you are different.

nyellinvor 15 Jahren

Incredible. The diameter of the HIV virus is ~90nm [1]

[1] http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=90+nm

geekfactorvor 15 Jahren

Is it at all ironic that it looks like the Death Star?

hughwvor 15 Jahren

A Web GL version of that model would be very welcome.

nyellinvor 15 Jahren

There is an older 3d Java simulation at http://www.mcld.co.uk/hiv/?q=3D%20HIV