May 2020
Nature is an opportunist force. Nothing moves in nature unless there is room for it to do so. A weakness in the Earth’s crust will allow magma to spew forth in the form of a volcano. Chemicals within that action move and react to make new compounds. Some 4 billion years ago 2 new compounds were formed called deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acid (DNA & RNA). This is a gross simplification, but these compounds are made up of 5 smaller molecules called nucleotides named 1. Adenine, 2. Cytosine 3. Guanine and 4 Thymine (DNA) or Uracil (RNA). Rather cleverly, these molecules can form chains of DNA or RNA arranged in a myriad of combinations which make up the genome code of every living thing on the planet. All living things are defined as such because they are made up of cells. Each cell contains a nucleus containing these codes. There are also microscopic particles of free existing DNA or RNA covered in a protein coat that are technically not living because they are not within a cell. These units are called viruses. There is a large varied group of these called corona viruses.
About 200 types of viruses cause the common cold. So, the reason why we don’t have a vaccine against the common cold is that we would need about 200 vaccines to deal with them all. However, when you catch a cold, then recover, you should then have immunity to that particular virus. However, you do not have immunity to the remaining c. 199 types of cold viruses. COVID-19 is a new corona virus to humans. Current evidence suggests it probably caused malady in pangolins. In the last 15 years, these pangolins have been hunted to near extinction as they can be sold for thousands of pounds as a gastronomic delicacy and their keratin scales as Chinese medicine. They are now on the IUCN list of endangered species. They eat ants and other insects and move like a sloth both on the ground and in trees. It is thought very likely that the COVID-19 virus was transferred from pangolins to humans via this illegal trade in wildlife during the last 12 months.
This accident of nature is having profound consequences for planet earth. Without any value judgement we could see changes that may be more profound than almost anything that humans, who are of course part of nature, could engineer. Please stay safe!