Simian Immune Systems

[Queequeg]

Watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It's pretty great-I've seen all of the Apes films, and have a lot of affection even for the troubled ones.  But one of the plot points is that ape immune systems are better.

This struck me as interesting.  At first it struck me as likely bullshit-we deal with far higher population density-but then it struck me that chimps likely live with a lot of bizarre jungle viruses, and probably end up eating a lot of disgusting raw stuff.  I know certain viruses come from ape populations, but that doesn't prove anything other than that they had a select few diseases. 

[Razgovory]

Human being lived lots of bizarre jungle viruses in the past.  In fact, some still do.

[Queequeg]

Human being lived lots of bizarre jungle viruses in the past.  In fact, some still do.

Yeah, thought of this.  Most of them presumably eat cooked food, but seems a fair bet that some don't.

[Razgovory]

When I try to quote people on this board, it doesn't always work.  I don't know why.

Anyway, the British eat all sorts of disgusting things as well.  And the Japanese eat lots of raw stuff.  Of course I'm not a biologist, so I don't know a lot about that.  I think this is more Fate's department.  He's studying to be a doctor, or maybe a serial killer.  I dunno, something like that.

[Caliga]

My immune system is perfect.  QED.

[jimmy olsen]

Watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It's pretty great-I've seen all of the Apes films, and have a lot of affection even for the troubled ones.  But one of the plot points is that ape immune systems are better.

This struck me as interesting.  At first it struck me as likely bullshit-we deal with far higher population density-but then it struck me that chimps likely live with a lot of bizarre jungle viruses, and probably end up eating a lot of disgusting raw stuff.  I know certain viruses come from ape populations, but that doesn't prove anything other than that they had a select few diseases.

I agree it's likely bullshit, not only do we live in much higher population densities we are exposed to far more disease vectors than apes because of our domesticated animals.

[Queequeg]

We have antibiotics, though.  Hmm.