Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/15/85; site amdcad.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!gatech!amdcad!phil From: phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: attacking viruses Message-ID: <2617@amdcad.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 01:22:59 EDT Article-I.D.: amdcad.2617 Posted: Tue Aug 13 01:22:59 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 02:46:45 EDT Organization: AMDCAD, Sunnyvale, CA Lines: 17 Recently someone commented that modern medicine can do little against illness caused by viruses. I had a thought which goes like this: in recombinant DNA research they use agents (a form of RNA?) which cut the genes at precise points. Then other methods are used to splice together the pieces as desired. Could we simply employ the right agents to cut up the genes in nasty viruses? I realize they are carried in protein containers and the genes are directly injected into the victim cells. But I wanted to throw out this idea. The cutting agents seem to be programmed to cut at precise places, which means they should be able to attack the desired virus and nothing else. Or I could be all wet. I'm an engineer, not a doctor. -- Yuck! This coke tastes different! Phil Ngai (408) 749-5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.ARPA