What drives the mutation in virus and bacteria?

This is an interesting question. In animals, we know we can induce mutation by injecting energy with x-ray or the like. I don’t think that is the case for virus. What makes them mutate? What about bacteria? I don’t believe they possess those genes in the beginning. So it is not a case of survival of the fittest. Is it really a random chance? I wonder if there is an answer out there. Maybe I will research more later.

Personal Experience and Reality

With the advancement of science, we realize our senses are very limited and sometimes wrong. Should we trust our experience? Or how much can we trust our experience?

One example is the facts of the sun and the earth. Our experience tells us that the earth is flat and the sun goes around the earth. But we all know by now that this is contrary to the facts.

I also remember a science project my son did several years ago, “seeing is believing.” He showed many examples of seeing not the reality. Our eyes and brain are easily tricked by illusion. In addition to being tricked, the spectrum visible to human eyes and sounds audible to human ears are such a small portion of the whole spectrum.

Is Mutation Harmful or Beneficial for Survival?

Yesterday on our way to pick up my daughter, my wife and I discussed about the bird flu in the news in the car. During the discussion, we realized that with bacteria and virus, mutations help them to survive better. This is an interesting phenomenon. This seems to be contrary to the facts in higher organism. In higher organism, mutations are harmful for the survival. It brings harmful effects to the body.

Does mutation bring different effects to living organism because of their complexity? I am not sure how to reconcile the contradiction yet. I have to research a bit deeper on this subject.

Introduction

Welcome to the site!

This site is created to capture my random thoughts and discussion on science, technology, education, religion and philosophy.