So. You are doing this from the airport?
That picture looks just like my high school principal.
DLCsays
The good thing about having a shell is, you have your own house which you can take with you wherever you go.
nemo the dervsays
He looks comfy. Someone needs to put a “sold” sign in front of that shell because I think he just bought it.
Thorbinatorsays
Nobody said that. Silly PZ Myers, forgetting that nautilus is a cephalopod.
Freerefillsays
Makes me wonder if this is going to be a new evolutionary path for them. Just like birds build nests, are these cephalopods going to instinctively seek out shells or bottles to hide in/under, and carry them around wherever they go? That would be SO cool.
cuttlefishsays
Ah, the elusive Hermit Octopus, telling those kids to stay off his lawn.
Emrysmyrddinsays
It’s going to need a bumbag to store all those shells.
QwertySapienssays
So I wanted to see if anyone can tell me how big a deal this is: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0022572
It’s a paper published recently by a lab at MIT which says that they’ve created a chimeric protein that interferes with any cell with viral dsRNA in it by initiating a apoptogenic cascade. This has been proven true over 15 different viruses from different families. Is this possibly as important as, say, penicillin?
TY
QwertySapienssays
Sorry for OT post *ducks*
Fukudasays
Qwerty, I remain a bit skeptic about that approach.
Mostly because we already have equivalent proteins inside our cells. The RIG helicase protein family does exactly that, it detects double stranded RNA and activates among other things an apoptotic cascade.
Most viruses are able to circumvent the mechanism (obviously, we wouldn’t have infections if not) even though they usually do it blocking a step between the helicase and the apoptotic effectors.
The novel thing is that they pasted the dsRNA recognition domian of a RIG protein to an apoptotic effector activating domain (Apaf1 or FADD). That’s neat as it solves any problem caused by a blockade of the signaling pathway, but most viruses are able to block the apoptotic effectors themselves (caspases).
Viruses acquired an entire arsenal of anti-apoptotic proteins through evolution.. And they certainly will continue acquiring them if we apply enough selective pressure on them…
Not saying that it’s not a great approach, just that we shouldn’t get our hopes way too high.
Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and liessays
Loungin’!
He is ready for the weekend! Where’s his beer?
QwertySapienssays
Thanks! Sometimes it becomes difficult to filter the “OMGBESTNEWCUREFOREVERYTHINGEVAR” from the reality, and on those occasions I’m glad I have the Pharyngula community to turn to :).
Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and liessays
OT:
QwertySapiens, if you have another question like that, you can bring it up on the Endless Thread– nothing is off topic there.
If I recall correctly, these octopodes in the coconut shells are found near the Philippines in places where the sea floor is barren and there is little shelter from predators. The shells are vital protection and the octopodes carry them around rather than leaving them for another to find. At the sight of a large fish, they retreat into the shell and flip it over to make a hut.
The same area has the mimic octopus, which can look and move like more than a dozen other animals including a flounder and a venomous sea snake, and a blobby thing that I think is meant to convey stonefish (which has poisonous spines).
Ragutissays
Sorta reminds me of the yip yips from Sesame Street.
So. You are doing this from the airport?
That picture looks just like my high school principal.
The good thing about having a shell is, you have your own house which you can take with you wherever you go.
He looks comfy. Someone needs to put a “sold” sign in front of that shell because I think he just bought it.
Nobody said that. Silly PZ Myers, forgetting that nautilus is a cephalopod.
Makes me wonder if this is going to be a new evolutionary path for them. Just like birds build nests, are these cephalopods going to instinctively seek out shells or bottles to hide in/under, and carry them around wherever they go? That would be SO cool.
Ah, the elusive Hermit Octopus, telling those kids to stay off his lawn.
It’s going to need a bumbag to store all those shells.
So I wanted to see if anyone can tell me how big a deal this is: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0022572
It’s a paper published recently by a lab at MIT which says that they’ve created a chimeric protein that interferes with any cell with viral dsRNA in it by initiating a apoptogenic cascade. This has been proven true over 15 different viruses from different families. Is this possibly as important as, say, penicillin?
TY
Sorry for OT post *ducks*
Qwerty, I remain a bit skeptic about that approach.
Mostly because we already have equivalent proteins inside our cells. The RIG helicase protein family does exactly that, it detects double stranded RNA and activates among other things an apoptotic cascade.
Most viruses are able to circumvent the mechanism (obviously, we wouldn’t have infections if not) even though they usually do it blocking a step between the helicase and the apoptotic effectors.
The novel thing is that they pasted the dsRNA recognition domian of a RIG protein to an apoptotic effector activating domain (Apaf1 or FADD). That’s neat as it solves any problem caused by a blockade of the signaling pathway, but most viruses are able to block the apoptotic effectors themselves (caspases).
Viruses acquired an entire arsenal of anti-apoptotic proteins through evolution.. And they certainly will continue acquiring them if we apply enough selective pressure on them…
Not saying that it’s not a great approach, just that we shouldn’t get our hopes way too high.
Loungin’!
He is ready for the weekend! Where’s his beer?
Thanks! Sometimes it becomes difficult to filter the “OMGBESTNEWCUREFOREVERYTHINGEVAR” from the reality, and on those occasions I’m glad I have the Pharyngula community to turn to :).
OT:
QwertySapiens, if you have another question like that, you can bring it up on the Endless Thread– nothing is off topic there.
The latest one can be found here: Episode CCXLII: Yikes!
:)
A pearl.
I know it’s just the angle of the picture, but it looks like someone crossed a warthog with an octopus.
“Hmmyes. This should do quite nicely for the cotillion tonight.”
This shell, which is mine, which belongs to me, is mine and is my shell.
Getting the old owner out was a struggle.
But tasty.
Glen Davidson
Gel@18.
the old owner is still inside the shell… just at one remove.
Gel? WTF is Gel?
That should read Glen (my humblest, most abject, and heartfelt apology shall wend your way, once I find a heart)
I was not aware how stinking cute those critters could be until reading pharyngula.
Of course it was Clinton’s policies that did this to the housing market.
(runs away)
Eeeeeeeee, too cute! Just too cute.
Look, I’m an angry hippo!
They can steal shells, but they’re still fucking spineless.
If I recall correctly, these octopodes in the coconut shells are found near the Philippines in places where the sea floor is barren and there is little shelter from predators. The shells are vital protection and the octopodes carry them around rather than leaving them for another to find. At the sight of a large fish, they retreat into the shell and flip it over to make a hut.
The same area has the mimic octopus, which can look and move like more than a dozen other animals including a flounder and a venomous sea snake, and a blobby thing that I think is meant to convey stonefish (which has poisonous spines).
Sorta reminds me of the yip yips from Sesame Street.
Coconut octopus
http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/misc/hp_jumps/octopus/marg.html
and
http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/octopus_carries_around_coconut_shells_as_suits_of_armour.php
and especially
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPnd_KzGdHI
Mimic octopus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8oQBYw6xxc
So, what’s the deal here. Are we supposed to go to Pharyngula on this site or the other.