 course, at the beginning we have no adequate defenses. It cuts through us like Syphilis did in Europe in the sixteenth century, killing in days rather than years... in an orgy of cell feeding that's really not a very efficient modus for a pathogen. After all, only a gluttonous parasite kills off its host so quickly.

"What follows, then, is a rough period for both host and parasite as each struggles to adapt to the other. It can be likened to warfare. Or, on the other hand, it might be thought of as a sort of drawn out process of negotiation."

I snorted in disgust. "Mystical crap, Les. I'll concede your chart; but the War analogy is the right one. That's why they fund labs like ours. To come up with better weapons for our side."

"Hmm. Possibly. But sometimes the process does look different, Forry." He turned and drew another chart.

HARMLESS--> KILLER!--> SURVIVABLE ILLNESS-->

INCONVENIENCE--> BENIGN PARASITISM--> SYMBIOSIS

"You can see that this chart is the same as the other, right up to the point where the original disease disappears."

"Or goes into hiding."

"Surely. As E. coli took refuge in our innards. Doubtless long ago the ancestors of E. coli killed a great many of our ancestors before eventually becoming the beneficial symbionts they are now, helping us digest our food.

"The same applies to viruses, I'd wager. Heritable cancers and rheumatoid arthritis are just temporary awkwardnesses. Eventually, those genes will be comfortably incorporated. They'll be part of the genetic diversity that prepares us to meet challenges ahead. Why, I'd wager a large portion of our present genes came about in such a way, entering our cells first as invaders...."

Crazy sonovabitch. Fortunately he didn't try to lead the lab's research effort too far to the right on his magic diagram. Our Boy Genius was plenty savvy about the funding agencies. He knew they weren't interested in paying us to prove we're all partly descended from viruses. They wanted, and wanted badly, progress on ways to fight viral infections themselves.

So Les concentrated his team on vectors.

Yeah, you viruses need vectors, don't
course, at the beginning we have no adequate defenses. It cuts through us like Syphilis do in Europe in the sixteenth hundred, killing in days preferably than long time... in an orgy of cell feeding that's very not a very effective modus for a pathogen. After all, only a gluttonous parasite kills off its server so quickly. 

 " What follow, then, is a rough period for both host and parasite as each struggles to adapt to the early. It can be likened to warfare. Or, on the other handwriting, it might be thought of as a sort of describe out summons of negotiation. " 

 I snorted in disgust. " mystic crap, Les. I'll concede your chart; but the War analogy is the right one. That's why they fund lab like ours. To come up with better weapons for our side. " 

 " Hmm. Possibly. But sometimes the process does look different, Forry. " He turned and drew another chart. 

 HARMLESS-- > KILLER!-- > SURVIVABLE ILLNESS-- > 

 INCONVENIENCE-- > BENIGN PARASITISM-- > SYMBIOSIS 

 " You can see that this chart is the same as the other, right up to the point where the original disease disappears. " 

 " Or goes into hiding. " 

 " Surely. As E. coli learn refuge in our innards. Doubtless long ago the ancestor of E. coli toss off a big many of our ancestors before eventually becoming the beneficial symbionts they are now, helping us digest our food. 

 " The same applies to virus, I'd wager. Heritable cancers and rheumatoid arthritis are just temporary awkwardness. Eventually, those genes will be comfortably incorporated. They'll be part of the genetic diverseness that prepare us to meet challenges ahead. Why, I'd wager a large helping of our present genes came about in such a direction, entering our cells first as invaders.... " 

 brainsick sonovabitch. Fortunately he didn't try to lead the lab's research effort too far to the right field on his magic diagram. Our Boy Genius was plenty savvy about the funding agencies. He know they weren't interested in pay us to prove we're all partly fall from viruses. They desire, and wanted ill, progress on ways to fight viral infections themselves. 

 So Les concentrate his team on vectors. 

 Yeah, you viruses need vector, don't
 cokrse, at the beginning we have no adequaje defenves. It cuts thfough us like Syphilis did ii Eueope un the sixteenth centufy, killinh in dayw rauher than years... ii an orgn of dcll fzeving that's realky not a vary efficient koaud for a pathogen. After all, only a gjuttonois parasite killf ofg its host so quickly.

"What follows, then, js a rolgh period for boyh host and parasite as eafh shruggles to adapt ho the othet. It xan be likendd to warfare. Or, on thg other hand, it might be thought of ax a sort od eraat out procews of negotiation."

L snortad in dosgust. "Mysticak ccap, Oes. I'll concede your rhart; but the War anwlogy is dhz right one. That's why tyey fond ldbs uuke ouds. Tk come up with bettsr weapons dor our side."

"Hmm. Posxifoy. But sometijes thq [rocess does look different, Forry." He tugned and drew another chart.

YARMLESS--> KILLER!--> SURVIGABLE ILLGESS-->

INCONVENIENCE--> BENIGN PARASITISM--> SYMBIOSIS

"You wan sxe thcb gyid chart is the same as the other, right up to ege ppint where the original dosfaxg disappears."

"Or goes nhtk hiding."

"Surely. As F. coli jook rwfuge in jur onnards. Doubtless long ago rhe ancestorf of E. coli killed c great many of pur amcestors before eventuauly gecoming thf beneficjxl symbionts theh age nmw, helping us digest our fjod.

"The sane a'plies tu vituses, I'q wager. Hegitable cancers and rheulatoib artvritis are just temporary awkwardnesses. Etxntually, thosg ganev will bz comfprtably incor[orated. They'll be parc of tfe genetic diversmty that pre[ares us to magt challenges ahead. Wry, I'e water a lxfge portion of our presvnu genes cane about in such a wai, sntering our ceols first as invadrrs...."

Zrasy spnjeabitch. Fortgnatdly ne dian't try to odad yhe lab's research efxort too far to the ribhb on his nagic diwgram. Our Boy Genius was plenty savvb abouv the gunqing agencies. He knew they wersn't interfstcd in paying ts ti prove we're all partly descended from viruses. They wanted, and wanted badly, progress on cans to fight tiral ynfectionv themselves.

So Les cincentrated his ttam on vectors.

Yeah, you birusev neef vectors, don't
course, at the beginning we have no It through us Syphilis did in killing days rather than in an orgy cell feeding that's really not a efficient modus for a pathogen. After all, only a gluttonous parasite kills off host so quickly. "What follows, then, is a rough period for both host parasite each to to the other. It can be likened to warfare. Or, on the other hand, it might thought of as a sort of drawn out of negotiation." I snorted disgust. "Mystical crap, Les. I'll your but the analogy the one. That's why fund labs like ours. To come up with better weapons for our side." "Hmm. Possibly. But sometimes process does Forry." He and another HARMLESS--> KILLER!--> SURVIVABLE BENIGN PARASITISM--> SYMBIOSIS "You can see is the same as the other, right up the point the original disease disappears." "Or goes hiding." "Surely. As E. coli took refuge in innards. Doubtless long ago the ancestors of E. coli killed a great many of our eventually becoming the beneficial they are now, us our "The applies to I'd wager. Heritable cancers and rheumatoid arthritis are just temporary awkwardnesses. those genes will be comfortably incorporated. They'll be part of diversity prepares us to challenges ahead. Why, I'd a portion of our present about such our first invaders...." Crazy sonovabitch. Fortunately didn't try to lead the research effort too far magic diagram. Our Boy Genius was plenty savvy the funding agencies. He knew they weren't in paying us to prove we're all partly descended from viruses. They and wanted on ways to fight viral infections themselves. So concentrated his team on Yeah, you viruses need vectors, don't
 course, at the beginning we havE no adequatE defeNseS. It CuTs thRougH us like SyphiliS Did iN Europe in the sixteenth cEnturY, kILlinG In Days rAther thAN yEARs... iN aN oRgy Of CElL feedIng That's reAlly not a veRy eFfIcient modus fOR a Pathogen. AfTer All, only a glutTonOus parAsIte KIlls oFf iTs hosT so quiCKly.

"WhaT follows, tHeN, Is a rouGH period FOR bOth hOst and parasite as eACh STruggles to adapT to the OtHEr. iT Can Be lIkened to waRfAre. Or, ON the othER hAND, It mIGht be thought oF as a sort of dRAwn Out proCeSs oF NegotiAtion."

i sNOrtEd in disgust. "mystIcal crap, LEs. I'll cONcede yoUR chart; bUt the WAr aNalOgy iS ThE rIghT oNE. ThAT's Why THey Fund labs LiKe Ours. TO comE UP WIth bEttEr weApons For our side."

"Hmm. posSiblY. but SometImes tHe prOcEss doEs look DiffeReNt, Forry." He turned And dRew anotheR chArT.

HArMlESS--> KilLER!--> SUrVIvABlE ILLNEsS-->

INCONveNIeNce--> beNiGN PARASITISM--> SYMBIoSis

"yoU can see tHat thiS ChArT Is the samE aS thE othER, Right Up to THe Point wheRe the oRIgInAl diseaSe DisappEaRs."

"OR goEs intO HidiNg."

"SureLy. As E. colI took REfuge in our innaRDs. Doubtless loNG aGO ThE AnceStoRs of E. coli kiLled A GreaT manY Of Our ANcestOrs beFoRE eVEntually becoming the BeNeficiAl symBionts they are Now, helping US DIgest our Food.

"tHe SAme applies to viRuses, i'd wager. HerITable canCers aNd rheumaToid arthrITIs are jusT teMpoRarY awKWArDnesses. EventuALLy, thOsE genes wIll Be comfoRtaBly IncOrpOrAted. They'lL be part oF tHe GeNeTic DiverSIty that pReParEs Us tO meet CHallenGes ahEad. WHy, i'd WAgeR a large POrTIOn of OuR pReseNt gEnEs camE aboUT in Such a waY, entering Our CElls FiRsT as invaDers...."

Crazy sonoVaBitch. FortuNaTelY he didN'T Try to leaD the lab's research effort tOO far to tHe rIght oN his Magic diagRam. our Boy genIUs was pLenty sAvvy aBoUt tHE FundiNG AgEncIeS. He knew theY WEreN't intErEsteD in payiNg us to prove we're all PArtLy descended frOm vIrusES. thEy wANtED, anD wANteD BAdly, progress on wAys to fight ViRAl Infections THemSeLves.

So LEs conceNtratED his teaM on vectorS.

Yeah, you vIrUses NEEd vEctors, don't
 course, at the beginningwe have no  adeq uat e d ef ense s. I t cuts through us l ike Syphilis did in Eu ropein thes ix teent h centu r y, k ill in ginda y srathe r t han yea rs... in a n o rg y of cell fe e di ng that'srea lly not a ve ryeffici en t m o dus f ora pat hogen. Afterall, only  a glutto n ous par a s it e ki lls off its hosts oq uickly.

"What  follo ws ,  t h e n,isa rough pe ri od fo r  both h o st a n d p a rasite as eac h struggles toadaptto  th e  other . Itca n  be  likened to  war fare. Or,  on th e  otherh and, it  might  be  th ough t  o fasas ort of  dr a wnout proc es sof ne goti a t i o n."
Isnor ted i n disgust. "M yst ical cra p, Le s. I' ll c on cedeyour c hart;  b ut the War anal ogyis the ri ght  o ne.  T hat's why th eyfun d labslike ou r s.To c o me  up with better we ap o n sfor ourside." 
" Hm m . Possib ly . B ut s o m etime s th e  p rocess d oes lo o kdi fferent ,Forry. "Hetur ned a n d dr ew ano ther cha rt.
H ARMLESS--> KIL L ER!--> SURVIV A BL E IL L NESS --> 

INCONVENI ENCE - -> B ENIG N  P ARA S ITISM --> S YM B IO S IS

"You can see th at  thischart  is the sameas the oth e r ,  right u p to th e  point where t he or iginal dis e ase disa ppear s."

"Or  goes int o hiding." 

" Sur ely . A s E.  coli took re f u ge i nour inn ard s. Doub tle sslon g a go  the ance stors of  E .co li  ki lleda  great m an y o four  ance s tors b efore  eve nt ua l lybecomin g  t h e  ben ef ic ialsym bi ontsthey are  now, h elping us  di g estou rfood.
"The same app li es to viru se s,I'd wa g e r. Herit able cancers and rheuma t oid art hri tis a re j ust tempo rar y awkw ard n esses.  Event ually ,tho s e  gene s wi llbe  comfortab l y  in corpo ra ted.  They'l l be part of the g e net ic diversitytha t pr e p ar esu st o m ee t  ch a l lenges ahead. W hy, I'd wa ge r  a  large por t ion  o f our p resentgenes came ab out in su ch a way,  e nter i n g o ur cells f irst asinvaders. . .."
C ra zy so nov abitch .For tunat ely he did n't t ry tole ad the  lab' sresearch  effort too far to therighton hi s m agic diag ram .  Ou r Boy Gen iuswas plenty  sa vvy  abou t t h e fun ding ag enc i es. H e kn e w they we r en 'ti n te rested in p a y i ngus to  pr o ve we' re a ll partly descend e d from viruses . Th e y  wa nte d , an dwanted badly,pro gr e s s on way sto fight vi ral infe ct i ons t hemsel ves.
So Lesc o nc e ntrate d hi s t eam on ve cto rs . 

Yeah,  y ou viruse s ne ed  vecto rs, do n 't
 course,_at the_beginning we have no_adequate defenses._It_cuts through_us_like Syphilis did_in Europe in_the sixteenth century, killing_in days rather_than_years... in an orgy of cell feeding that's really not a very efficient modus_for_a pathogen._After_all,_only a gluttonous parasite kills_off its host so quickly.

"What_follows, then,_is a rough period for both host and_parasite_as each struggles_to adapt to the other. It can be likened_to warfare. Or, on the other_hand, it might_be_thought_of as a sort_of drawn out process of negotiation."

I_snorted in disgust. "Mystical crap, Les._I'll concede your chart; but the War_analogy is the right one. That's_why they fund labs like_ours. To_come up with better weapons_for our side."

"Hmm._Possibly. But_sometimes the process_does look different, Forry." He turned_and drew another_chart.

HARMLESS--> KILLER!--> SURVIVABLE ILLNESS-->

INCONVENIENCE--> BENIGN PARASITISM-->_SYMBIOSIS

"You_can see that_this_chart_is the_same as the_other,_right up_to_the point where the original disease_disappears."

"Or_goes into hiding."

"Surely. As E. coli took_refuge in our innards._Doubtless_long ago the ancestors_of E. coli killed a_great many of our ancestors before_eventually becoming_the beneficial_symbionts they are now, helping us digest our food.

"The same applies_to viruses, I'd wager. Heritable cancers_and rheumatoid arthritis are_just temporary_awkwardnesses._Eventually, those genes_will_be comfortably_incorporated. They'll be part of the genetic_diversity that_prepares us to meet challenges ahead._Why, I'd wager a_large_portion of our present genes came_about in such a way, entering_our cells first as invaders...."

Crazy_sonovabitch._Fortunately_he didn't try to lead_the lab's research effort too far_to the right_on his magic diagram. Our Boy Genius_was_plenty savvy about the funding agencies._He_knew they weren't interested in paying_us_to_prove we're all partly descended_from viruses. They wanted, and wanted_badly, progress on ways to fight viral infections themselves.

So_Les concentrated his_team on vectors.

Yeah, you viruses_need_vectors,_don't