Bad news Quote by David Quammen
““Sir Peter Medawar, an eminent British biologist who received a Nobel Prize the same year as Macfarlane Burnet, defined a virus as “a piece of bad news wrapped up in a protein.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, 2012
A virus is described as harmful genetic material encased in a protein shell, spreading disease.
In simple terms: Viruses are bad news packaged in proteins.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and mitigate viral threats.
Themes
biology
virology
public health
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- research labs
- clinical diagnostics
- epidemic response
- vaccination programs
Key Concepts
pathogen evolution
host interaction
transmission
immune response
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors drive virus emergence?
- How can surveillance improve?
A Different Perspective
Complex ecosystems can obscure origins and transmission pathways.
