N.Wells
Posts: 1836
Joined: Oct. 2005
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[quote=GaryGaulin,May 12 2016,20:47][/quote]
So, Gary's original text claimed that HIV was "unimolecular":
| Quote | | With little known about how self-replicating RNA works we will use the example of unimolecular viruses such as HIV where there is molecular group behavior. |
To this, a critic responded | Quote | | HIV is unimolecular? Really? Pardon me while I sadly shake my head at wrong headedness unworthy of even the most diffident undergraduate. HIV has 9 genes which encode for 16 proteins, it is one of the most complex viruses known. |
Gary's latest text has dropped mention of HIV:
| Quote | Unimolecular Intelligence
Clues to the origin of intelligent living things are found in rudimentary molecular systems such as self-replicating RNA. Since these are single macromolecules that can self-learn they are more precisely examples of “Unimolecular Intelligence”, as opposed to “Molecular Intelligence”, which may contain millions of molecules all working together as one.
REQUIREMENT #1 of 4 - SOMETHING TO CONTROL
The motor muscles RNA are molecular actuators, which use the force of molecular attraction to grab and release other molecules. The catalytic ability (chemically reacts with other molecules without itself changing to a new molecular species) of ribonucleotide (A,G,C,U) bases combine to form useful molecular machinery. Where these bases are properly combined into strands they become a mobile molecule that can control/catalyze other molecules in their environment |
Despite cleaning up after the HIV debacle (and setting aside the problem that Gary asserts but has not yet demonstrated "intelligence" and "learning" at his supposed unimolecular and molecular levels), note that "Unimolecular Intelligence" begins with a reference to "molecular systems", and follows shortly thereafter with descriptions of RNA grabbing and releasing other molecules and reacting with other molecules and controlling other molecules, which rather makes nonsense of this system being unimolecular.
Beyond that, Gary remains sensitive to the old criticism because he responds by mentioning a Wikipedia article on single-strand RNA viruses.
This is irrelevant to the original criticism, because no one doubted that there are such things, and because HIV is more complex. Nonetheless, it is instructive to see what Gary was willing to hold up as a shining example of "unimolecular intelligence", in his general ignorance of all things chemical, up until he got called on it.
| Quote | HIV is different in structure from other retroviruses. It is around 120 nm in diameter (around 60 times smaller than a red blood cell) and roughly spherical.
HIV-1 is composed of two copies of noncovalently linked, unspliced, positive-sense single-stranded RNA enclosed by a conical capsid composed of the viral protein p24, typical of lentiviruses. The RNA component is 9749 nucleotides long and bears a 5’ cap (Gppp), a 3’ poly(A) tail, and many open reading frames (ORFs). Viral structural proteins are encoded by long ORFs, whereas smaller ORFs encode regulators of the viral life cycle: attachment, membrane fusion, replication, and assembly. ..... The single-strand RNA is tightly bound to p7 nucleocapsid proteins, late assembly protein p6, and enzymes essential to the development of the virion, such as reverse transcriptase and integrase. Lysine tRNA is the primer of the magnesium-dependent reverse transcriptase. The nucleocapsid associates with the genomic RNA (one molecule per hexamer) and protects the RNA from digestion by nucleases. Also enclosed within the virion particle are Vif, Vpr, Nef, and viral protease. A matrix composed of an association of the viral protein p17 surrounds the capsid, ensuring the integrity of the virion particle. This is in turn surrounded by an envelope of host-cell origin. The envelope is formed when the capsid buds from the host cell, taking some of the host-cell membrane with it. The envelope includes the glycoproteins gp120 and gp41, which are responsible for binding to and entering the host cell.
The virus envelope spike consists of a trimer of three gp120–gp41 heterodimers. The first model of its structure was compiled in 2006 using cryo-electron tomography. An atomic level crystal structure was solved in 2014, which for the first time revealed many functionally important details and will aid in designing a successful HIV vaccine. |
Remember, Gary wanted to present this as "unimolecular". This is a pattern: assert and blather, in blissful ignorance, as long as Gary thinks that it sounds like it ought to support his preconceptions. Then, when corrected, evade and tapdance, and then finally, long after his position has become untenable, remove the offending words, but continue with the previous assertions and preconceptions otherwise unchanged.
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