Comments on: The Return of the Puppet Masters http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/ A blog about life, past and future. Written by DISCOVER contributing editor and columnist Carl Zimmer. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:08:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ironbarr http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-17071 Ironbarr Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:56:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-17071 Toxoplasma gondii infection - explains liberalism... angry men and sultry women. Toxoplasma gondii infection – explains liberalism… angry men and sultry women.

]]> By: The Newsstand Sophisticate :: I Blame the Parasites http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-8706 The Newsstand Sophisticate :: I Blame the Parasites Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:42:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-8706 [...] that the developmet of religions might have been driven by parasites, ever since I read about Toxoplasma gondii on science writer Carl Zimmer’s blog, The Loom, I can’t put anything past parasites. [...] [...] that the developmet of religions might have been driven by parasites, ever since I read about Toxoplasma gondii on science writer Carl Zimmer’s blog, The Loom, I can’t put anything past parasites. [...]

]]> By: JM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2209 JM Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:18:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2209 I was diagnosed with Toxoplasmosis when I was 24. I noticed a "floater" in my eye went to the doctor, who sent me to an eye doctor and their conclusion was that I had probably got the disease when I was about 4 years old, and the floater I saw was old scar tissue that just appeared. It has since went away, I am now 32years old and recently suffered a miscarriage. Could the Toxoplasmois have caused the miscarriage, or am I now immune to it? Does anyone know? I was diagnosed with Toxoplasmosis when I was 24. I noticed a “floater” in my eye went to the doctor, who sent me to an eye doctor and their conclusion was that I had probably got the disease when I was about 4 years old, and the floater I saw was old scar tissue that just appeared. It has since went away, I am now 32years old and recently suffered a miscarriage. Could the Toxoplasmois have caused the miscarriage, or am I now immune to it? Does anyone know?

]]> By: Ian Woollard http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2208 Ian Woollard Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:37:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2208 AFAIK the only drug known to stop the parasite once it has entered the chronic stage is atovaquone. The other drugs tackle the motile form of the disease, but the parasite that forms the cysts is too well protected. Even then atovaquone doesn't always work. AFAIK the only drug known to stop the parasite once it has entered the chronic stage is atovaquone. The other drugs tackle the motile form of the disease, but the parasite that forms the cysts is too well protected.

Even then atovaquone doesn’t always work.

]]> By: Joshua http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2207 Joshua Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:28:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2207 Sounds like, as usual, a lot of people reading this are jumping to conclusions far beyond the science. Maybe toxoplasmosis explains that, too! Sounds like, as usual, a lot of people reading this are jumping to conclusions far beyond the science. Maybe toxoplasmosis explains that, too!

]]> By: phatkhat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2206 phatkhat Sun, 23 Apr 2006 18:33:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2206 #89, I have read more than once that the prophet Muhammed was a great lover of cats. Interesting that his followers do not have many pets. (Persian cats came, after all, from Iran.) Interesting article, though. #89, I have read more than once that the prophet Muhammed was a great lover of cats. Interesting that his followers do not have many pets. (Persian cats came, after all, from Iran.)

Interesting article, though.

]]> By: mabranich http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2205 mabranich Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:13:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2205 I was diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis in 1955, I have chorioretinitis with a large macular lesion in one eye (and some amblyopia in that eye also) and some smaller peripheral lesions in the other eye. I have led a useful, productive life, even though I am essentially a one-yeyed person (Only peripheral vision in the "bad" eye). Throughout my life my parents and I were terrorized by half-truths, falsehoods, and speculations such as your article. For the sake of those of us who must live with this diagnosis, please be kind and truthful. I was diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis in 1955, I have chorioretinitis with a large macular lesion in one eye (and some amblyopia in that eye also) and some smaller peripheral lesions in the other eye. I have led a useful, productive life, even though I am essentially a one-yeyed person (Only peripheral vision in the “bad” eye). Throughout my life my parents and I were terrorized by half-truths, falsehoods, and speculations such as your article. For the sake of those of us who must live with this diagnosis, please be kind and truthful.

]]> By: wholesomedick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2204 wholesomedick Sun, 19 Mar 2006 09:42:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2204 I think there's a parasite that makes people ignore the cherps from smoke alarms as the battery dies. If you don't, then you don't listen to enough Loveline. I think there’s a parasite that makes people ignore the cherps from smoke alarms as the battery dies. If you don’t, then you don’t listen to enough Loveline.

]]> By: KJ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2203 KJ Sun, 12 Mar 2006 18:02:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2203 "if Toxoplasma can alter the behavior of a rat, could it alter a human? Obviously, this manipulation would not do the parasite any good as an adaptation, since it's pretty rare for a human to be devoured by a cat." Humans not being eaten by (large) cats is only a very recent development. “if Toxoplasma can alter the behavior of a rat, could it alter a human? Obviously, this manipulation would not do the parasite any good as an adaptation, since it’s pretty rare for a human to be devoured by a cat.”

Humans not being eaten by (large) cats is only a very recent development.

]]> By: Stryder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-3/#comment-2202 Stryder Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:08:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2202 Another thing I just thought of after posting, is in relationship to something someone posted about parasites being rampant in the third world and again is also relative to ancesteral hominids. "Cannabilism". In some instance of Cannabilism, human organs were eaten raw to supposedly grant the person eating the soul of that of his victim. Suggestibly the raw human organ could contain parasites, which the person eating would then ingest. (Obivously cooked meat would kill the parasites off) Perhaps such cultures were suffering "parasicosis". Another thing I just thought of after posting, is in relationship to something someone posted about parasites being rampant in the third world and again is also relative to ancesteral hominids.

“Cannabilism”. In some instance of Cannabilism, human organs were eaten raw to supposedly grant the person eating the soul of that of his victim. Suggestibly the raw human organ could contain parasites, which the person eating would then ingest. (Obivously cooked meat would kill the parasites off)

Perhaps such cultures were suffering “parasicosis”.

]]> By: Stryder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-2/#comment-2201 Stryder Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:00:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2201 Interesting read. Makes me think about how ancestral hominids Hunted animals, then ate their kills and potentially adopted superstitious beliefs over how their "warriors" might have inherited the soul or spirit of the animal they killed. If the animal contained parasites that then became a preportion of the hunter through ingestion, it could attribute to some interesting psychological changes. Interesting read. Makes me think about how ancestral hominids Hunted animals, then ate their kills and potentially adopted superstitious beliefs over how their “warriors” might have inherited the soul or spirit of the animal they killed.

If the animal contained parasites that then became a preportion of the hunter through ingestion, it could attribute to some interesting psychological changes.

]]> By: Kane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/comment-page-2/#comment-2200 Kane Tue, 21 Feb 2006 17:09:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2006/01/17/the-return-of-the-puppet-masters/#comment-2200 Don't teach me on parasites anymore. I've just finished studying biology and I don't want to bang my head anymore. Ha-ha! Don’t teach me on parasites anymore. I’ve just finished studying biology and I don’t want to bang my head anymore. Ha-ha!

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