Could bacteria from Jovian Satellites destroy Human Civilization?

Discussion in 'Science' started by CCitizen, Jan 8, 2018.

  1. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    It is very possible that such bacteria could be extremely dangerous. I explore this theme in Victor Frankenstein's War, which I am writing. I would be grateful for any critique.
     
  2. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    The Gift From Europa.

    In January 2058 the Package from Europa has been delivered to Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The package contained just a one gram sample of water from a volcanic vent inside Europa's ocean. Water from Europa presents as little extraordinary value as water from Earth. The valuable part of the package consisted of the inhabitants of Europa's water -- about 2 million tiny bacteria. These bacteria were of 120 strains. Each tiny microorganism weighs just 60 femtograms -- like Mycoplasma Pneumoniae on Earth. The weight of 2 million organisms was 120 nanograms. My literary critics would mention that all bacteria are tiny, thus using the phrase "tiny bacteria" is Grammatically Incorrect. But let me assure you -- 60 femtograms is the smallest weight for any virus. Most bacteria have masses of picograms or even nanograms.

    Obtaining the one gram sample containing 120 nanograms of bacterial biomass was not easy. It cost Dr. Victor Frankenstein $30,000,000. He had to take many risks. He had to pay many bribes. He had to form risky alliances with smugglers and professional hackers. He made mistakes and had to use backup plans. He had to spend the years 2052-2057 in anxiety. His talent and perseverance finally brought him the desired result. Describing every step of Frankenstein's long quest would make a long story by itself.

    Can a 120 nanogram colony present a danger to the Human Civilization? If we take 120 nanograms of the strongest poison theoretically obtainable, it could be lethal to a hundred people at most, and only if they ingest it directly. Of all non-biological weapons, anti-matter is the most potent one. It reacts with ordinary matter and produces extremely powerful gamma rays. But the 120 nanogram mass is so small, that even that much anti-matter can not substantially harm a city let alone the whole civilization.

    The potency of a bacterial weapon is it's ability to self replicate. In a fertile environment, an average virus doubles every 16 hours. Thus, under the right conditions, 120 nanograms of virus can grow to 120 kilograms in just a month. The flip side of the potency of biological agents is that under wrong conditions, they do not double -- they disappear. One of the main advantages of cooking food is that the heat destroys every single bacteria in it. "Every single bacteria" is not an exaggeration -- no microorganism present in food can survive in boiling water. Common household disinfectants easily eradicate bacteria. Sunlight and ultraviolet light eradicate many strands of bacteria. Some bacteria can survive only in very specific environments -- right temperature, right acidity, right nutrient concentration.

    Dr. Victor Frankenstein understood, that a simple mistake in handling his sample could kill it. A single mistake could destroy the fruit of years of enormous effort and thirty million dollar expenditure. Before trying to find the right medium for bacterial growth, Dr. Victor Frankenstein subdivided his sample into 200 subsamples. His first subsample was placed in a sugar solution where it survived for about an hour. His second subsample was contaminated by earthly bacteria and lost as well. His third subsample was destroyed by oxygen. Careful as Dr. Victor Frankenstein was, he lost 49 subsamples. Only the 50th subsample showed some growth. In order to make a perfect drama, he should have lost 199 sub-samples and recovered only the 200th -- but Dr. Victor Frankenstein was not interested in drama. He was interested in results. Not taking unnecessary risks was one trait which brought him success. Out of the 120 strains, only 30 survived. But the ones that did were well adopted to their new habitat. By the end of 2058, Dr. Victor Frankenstein had produced several strains of bacteria vital in earthly environment.

    Cruelty to animals may be inexcusable, but sometimes animals have to be sacrificed for science, medicine, or even for human consumption. Dr. Victor Frankenstein bought 10 dogs, 20 cats, and 100 mice for his experiments. These animals were kept in strict isolation. They were fed and cared for by a set of 150 remotely controlled robots. Only Victor Frankenstein and his eight confidantes had access to the robots. All of the animals have been exposed to the viruses. The viruses had a three month incubation period, but then the animals got severely sick. Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his six friends tried all available antibiotics, and medicine to save the animals, but only one cat and three mice survived.

    Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his six friends sterilized the cages formerly used by all of the test animals and burned all the robots used in them. Conducting further experiments, they have determined that the bacteria were airborn, and any infected animal becomes contagious after two weeks of incubation. Dr. Victor Frankenstein's Gift from Europa to The People of Earth was finally prepared and ready for human consumption.

    The Power of Victor Frankenstein

    By late 2058, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, his best friend Henry Clerval, and his adopted son Igor Frankenstein were ready to make a sacrifice for science. They went inside the remotely controlled laboratory containing a cat and three mice which had survived the illness caused by extraterrestrial bacteria. They stayed at least 2 meters away from the animals, but bacteria were airborn. For the next three months, they secluded themselves and performed tests with the newest robotic equipment. In February 2059, the first symptoms appeared.

    Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Igor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval were the first people affected by Europa's bacteria. They were the first people to experience the terrible potency and resilience of viruses formerly unknown on Earth. These viruses are absolutely unaffected by human immune system. The viruses are resistant to any antibiotic. Throughout History, the worst viruses for any local population were the ones brought from other continents. These viruses were most devastating, since immune systems of local residents were not prepared for them. Viruses brought from other planets are much more devastating to humans and animals then the ones brought from other continents. They are far more devastating then HIV, Smallpox, or Bubonic Plague.

    Throughout 2059, the three scientists were experiencing a devastating sickness. For the first few months they were suffering delirium, and fever. Henry Clerval almost died. The only reason they survived is that with a capital of over a hundred million dollars, they could afford the best treatment available. Six of their friends took care of them 24/7. At any time at least three people were operating remotely controlled robots providing their every need. The best medicine and most powerful antibiotics were delivered to them.

    Following his ordeal, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Igor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval recovered some of their functions. All three were much weaker then before. All three were bound to wheelchairs. Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Igor Frankenstein could see only through artificial electronic eyes, while Henry Clerval retained a dim vision. Igor Frankenstein was in constant pain, while Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval became almost insensitive to touch.

    The illness which did not kill Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Igor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval gave them very special strength. That strength was not magic -- it was much worse. They carried viruses from Europa to which they themselves became immune. These viruses could be airborn.

    One of the worst aspects of the sickness was its stealth. The sickness had a three month incubation period during which the afflicted was blissfully unaware of his/her condition. Medical tests would be powerless to detect bacteria totally foreign to Earth environment. After two weeks of the incubation period, any human or animal carrying the extraterrestrial illness became contagious. Thus, an epidemic could spread through human population with millions of people being infected before the first person shows symptoms.

    Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Igor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval could unleash a local epidemic. They could visit a few shopping centers in a large city, and in three months much of the city would be infected. It would be a local plague costing over a million lives. It would take the resources of the whole nation to stop a local plague in a large city. The need to develop antibiotics and vaccines to fight the new infection would produce an international crisis. But Dr. Victor Frankenstein had a much more ambitious plan.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2018
  3. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

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    No links. Total nonsense.

    The reason bacteria on this planet can be dangerous is because we share common DNA.

    This is all total nonsense.

    For the same reason, aliens would not likely be able to eat us.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
  4. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. I have a PhD in Math and I am ignorant in Biology.
     
  5. robot

    robot Active Member

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    Many bacteria that affect certain types of animals cannot directly affect other types of animals. Yet they all originated on Earth. Bacteria that came from other worlds would be even less dangerous.
    If you want some alien life to be dangerous make it emit carbon monoxide or other pollutants. Or maybe take all the oxygen out of water.
     
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  6. cerberus

    cerberus Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    But I'm too young to be eaten by an alien. [​IMG]
     
  7. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Granny says, "Dat's right...

    ... all aliens oughta be quarantined...

    ... so dat dey's germs don't kill us all."
     
  8. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    You need to distinguish between viruses and bacteria. They are very different. I didn't read past the point where you started to use the terms--viruses and bacteria--interchangeably. For example, all viruses are resistant to antibiotics.

    Here's a good start to your study of viruses and bacteria.
    https://www.diffen.com/difference/Bacteria_vs_Virus
     
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  9. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    Then study and research before you write if you want your work to be taken seriously. I find myself turning off of fiction if I find too many factual errors. I stopped reading yours seriously at about the 6th paragraph. After that, I just looked at your errors.
     
  10. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. I should study some very basic Biology.
     
  11. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Definitely -- many Science Fiction works have many scientific errors.
     
  12. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Thank you -- I must learn more biology. I am grateful for all feedback -- even critical one.
     
  13. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    It is possible but not any more likely than the existence of bacteria on Jovian satellites.
     
  14. Pycckia

    Pycckia Well-Known Member

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    You don't need to share DNA to be available as a meal.
     
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  15. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    I guess so. I would like an opinion of someone who took Biology courses. My PhD in Math does not count.
     
  16. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    Very interesting story, but don't treat them with antibiotics. That will kill the bacteria. Treat them with other medications that only keep them alive long enough for their bodies to incorporate the new bacteria into their internal bacteria ecosystems.
     
  17. camp_steveo

    camp_steveo Well-Known Member

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    The Invisible Universe Of The Human Microbiome

    source
     
  18. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Before you tackle the errors in science I recommend you evaluate the writing style. Your text is overly wordy and somewhat boring (not engaging) which makes reading it seem a chore vs. a pleasure. A novel should never read like a report or thesis if intended to capture attention and imagination. A good editor for spelling is also recommended.
     
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  19. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    Yes, that much is evident.

    Bacteria and Viruses are quite different and Antibiotics do not work on Viral infections, and new Anti-Viral medications have proved effective in preventing AIDS / HIV

    Vectors of infection of pathogens and viability is specific and although mutations can and do occur, these can cause the pathogen harm as well as benefits.

    Blood pathogens though not specifically identified are not undetectable unless the sample shows no extraneous pathogens, for instance, HIV + relates to presence of an Anti body factor, not the actual virus.
     
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  20. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    By the way.,
    Dump all the campy Frank & Stein names,
    Igor etc......
    It spoils the story badly.
    Mention of money also spoils the story.
    Be a bit more creative.
     
  21. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    Rewrite suggestion:

    Climate change is melting repositories of long dead animals and humans on earth.

    Many of those died from dread diseases of ancient times - long since mutated and (maybe?) not necessarily susceptible to our immune systems and medicine of today.

    For example, a million reindeer died and were frozen in the permafrost of Russia a long time ago. Now the permafrost is thawing due to climate change, periodically releasing anthrax.

    http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170504-there-are-diseases-hidden-in-ice-and-they-are-waking-up

    Of course, this has the boring aspect of being non-fiction. But, science does not claim that we could identify, let alone readily solve these diseases that come back to life.

    Hey - zombie diseases!!
     
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  22. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    When destruction comes it likely will be by some undiscovered means, something that man has not yet observed and has not yet thought about.
     
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  23. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    There is are lists of methods for nature to eliminate humans, let alone the lists of ways that humans can do themselves in.

    I'm sure you are right that they aren't complete.

    But, we aren't even doing much about the ways we both know about and could do something about.

    Knowing and doing nothing is really no better than not knowing.
     
  24. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. I am a fool in Biology. I guess I must learn it now.
     
  25. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Sad but true.
     

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