Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Matthew Frieman
Vincent, Alan, and Matt discuss a project to study the RNA virome of Northeastern American bats, failure to detect XMRV in UK chronic fatigue syndrome patients, and DNA of bornavirus, an RNA virus, in mammalian genomes.
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Links for this episode:
- Mist net Indigo Tunnel, Western Maryland Railway (jpg)
- Eric Donaldson and Amy Haskew with bat in holding bag (jpg)
- XMRV not detected in UK chronic fatigue syndrome patients (virology blog)
- Bornavirus DNA in the mammalian genome
- Arenavirus DNA can be integrated into the cell genome
- Rabid raccoons in Central Park, NYC
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Matt 100 Incredible lectures from the world’s top scientists
Alan The Amateur Scientist CD
Vincent The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
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You shouldn't be surprised by the tone of debate surrounding CFS. The man involved with selcting patients for the British study thinks that biological investigations into CFS as they encourage patients to 'medicalise' their condition, rather than take responsibility for it themselves. The WPI takes a very different approach, and neither side seems to have much respect for the other.
CFS patients are either one of the most maligned group in western society, or else they're just mentally disturbed and refuse to realise it. If the XMRV research doesn't stand up, it looks like we'll be back to the default of assuming mentle illness.
Many seem to be under the impression that both studies, looking at XMRV in ME/CFS, used the same selection criteria. They did not.
The Science paper used Fukuda & Canadian, and the UK study used Fukuda only. They are very different.
Many seem to be under the impression that both studies, looking at XMRV in ME/CFS, used the same selection criteria. They did not.
The Science paper used Fukuda & Canadian, and the UK study used Fukuda only. They are very different.