Discrepancy in rage virus in 28DL and 28WL

[Fire Fly]

I was rewatchig 28 Weeks Later and really noticed just how immensely fast the rage virus affects its host, more so than when I first watched it. I remember in 28 Days Later, it at least took half a minute. Moreover, I also could not think up of a rational explanation for why the virus acted so quickly in general. The standard life cycle of a virus is to get inside the host, attach to a cell, drill its genetic material inside and hijack the cellular machinery to replicate new viruses. Once the replication takes place, the cell will explode by lysis or goes into a latency period. I think I may have found a possible explanation for the discrepancy between 28DL and 28WL.

In the events of 28 Weeks Later (especially the early part), we see the virus acting with very quick rapidity because its still in the initial outbreak. By the events of 28 Days Later, the virus has mutated. The probability that the virus will be transmitted to another host will be much lower if the host goes into full infection mode; the probability that the virus will be transmitted will be much higher if there is a small latency period before the onset of the rage. In this latency period, the host is a carrier for a short time period but in this period, it may be enough time for the infected host to already begin spreading the virus. If the host goes into full infection mode, it becomes harder to infect others because the virus now lacks an element of stealth.

When we see Alice give Don the virus, she was infected with the original strain. But even when she gave the virus to Don, it took a few seconds before he went into full breakout mode; again we see that the virus has mutated.

We see this in nature also. Certain strains of bacteria, such as Vibro cholera, will be very potent whereas other strains are much more mild. The more potent the strain, the more likely the host will die before it can transmit the bacteria. If the strain is milder, the host will survive long enough such that the host can being spreading around the bacteria.

This is a possible explanation for why there's a discrepancy and its highly speculative but its the best I can do to explain why 28DL and 28WL have differences in the rage virus.

[Darth Raptor]

Let me know when you figure out why it's visible with a light microscope.

Seriously, some movies just aren't worthy of the SoD treatment. 28WL is one of them.

[Fire Fly]

Let me know when you figure out why it's visible with a light microscope.

Seriously, some movies just aren't worthy of the SoD treatment. 28WL is one of them.

I was under the impression that those were infected cells; I'll have to rewatch that scene to make sure though.

[Coyote]

Well, bear in mind also that the Rage virus was artificially created or at least enhanced-- the monkey lab scene in the very beginning of 28DL. So really, any form of explanation that looks at naturally-occuring viruses is out of synch.

What I was wondering was what the hyper-rage was for? To infect one's own soldiers, so make them more aggressive? Or to infect the enemy so they'll tear each other apart while you wait?

[Fire Fly]

Well, bear in mind also that the Rage virus was artificially created or at least enhanced-- the monkey lab scene in the very beginning of 28DL. So really, any form of explanation that looks at naturally-occuring viruses is out of synch.

What I was wondering was what the hyper-rage was for? To infect one's own soldiers, so make them more aggressive? Or to infect the enemy so they'll tear each other apart while you wait?

The genetic engineering would explain why the virus acts so quickly but because the virus infects so many people, it will be subject to mutations and eventually, elements of the genetic engineering that created it will be lost over time. Selection will force the virus to adopt the best solution to increase its longevity, thus, my explanation for why there's an attenuation in the virulence. I'm not sure if the virus really replicates at all or specifically targets specific brain structures and makes them go awry, otherwise, its not biologically possible for a virus to replicate in a matter of seconds, no matter how much engineering you do.

The literature is not clear on what the purpose of the rage virus was for, but most likely, a biological weapon. I recall hearing about a program funded by the Department of Defense that once looked into a weapon to make men gay and not want to fight. It could be along that line, but without the wanting to have gay sex.

[Molyneux]

Well, bear in mind also that the Rage virus was artificially created or at least enhanced-- the monkey lab scene in the very beginning of 28DL. So really, any form of explanation that looks at naturally-occuring viruses is out of synch.

What I was wondering was what the hyper-rage was for? To infect one's own soldiers, so make them more aggressive? Or to infect the enemy so they'll tear each other apart while you wait?

It's Evil Science (tm). It doesn't NEED a reason.

[Darth Nostril]

Going to have to dig the dvd of 28DL out, but didn't the scientist the animal rights moonbats corner in the lab say it was a naturally occuring virus that was getting worse every year, and that they were trying to find a cure using the apes to accelerate the virus mutation

[Darkevilme]

When threatened by belligerent animal rights moonbats with threats of violence would you go for the truth or for the story that's less likely to result in them beating down on you even when it's made up on the spot? I'm not saying that it isn't a naturally occuring virus, i'm just saying it might not be as in the situation the scientist isnt reliable.

[Losonti Tokash]

He doesn't give some long winded explanation for what's going on, he just says they're infected. When pressed, he says they've been infected with rage. Then it all goes to shit. He never says what their grand plan was or anything like that.

[Rye]

Going to have to dig the dvd of 28DL out, but didn't the scientist the animal rights moonbats corner in the lab say it was a naturally occuring virus that was getting worse every year, and that they were trying to find a cure using the apes to accelerate the virus mutation

No, he says they're infected with rageand that "to treat we must understand" no mention of the actual origins of the virus.

[Junghalli]

The genetic engineering would explain why the virus acts so quickly but because the virus infects so many people, it will be subject to mutations and eventually, elements of the genetic engineering that created it will be lost over time. Selection will force the virus to adopt the best solution to increase its longevity, thus, my explanation for why there's an attenuation in the virulence.

Makes a certain amount of sense. As I recall syphilis went through a similar process; the symptoms of sixteenth century syphilis were a lot worse than the symptoms of modern syphilis.

The one problem I can think of is Rage is so wanked out a process like that might have a hard time starting up incrimentally. I mean, how many more people is it going to infect if the guy takes a minute to show symptoms instead of 20 seconds?

[Fire Fly]

Makes a certain amount of sense. As I recall syphilis went through a similar process; the symptoms of sixteenth century syphilis were a lot worse than the symptoms of modern syphilis.

The one problem I can think of is Rage is so wanked out a process like that might have a hard time starting up incrimentally. I mean, how many more people is it going to infect if the guy takes a minute to show symptoms instead of 20 seconds?

Who knows, but evolution has demonstrated that it can be quite nuanced.