Comments on: Infect. Evolve. Go back to school. http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/12/infect-evolve-go-back-to-school/ Kicking ass in the name of science! Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:33:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Adam http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/12/infect-evolve-go-back-to-school/#comment-103 Adam Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:36:07 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/12/infect-evolve-go-back-to-school/#comment-103 Etymologically, yes. But things that kill things more generally get called biocides, and "antibacterial" is already used for a different class of substances. "Chemotherapy" is legitimately used in contrast to radiotherapy or physiotherapy or surgery or whatever. Etymologically, yes. But things that kill things more generally get called biocides, and “antibacterial” is already used for a different class of substances. “Chemotherapy” is legitimately used in contrast to radiotherapy or physiotherapy or surgery or whatever.

]]> By: coracle http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/12/infect-evolve-go-back-to-school/#comment-66 coracle Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:50:24 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/12/infect-evolve-go-back-to-school/#comment-66 I've always thought that 'Antibiotic' is something of a misnomer. Realy, it should be antibacterial or antifungal. If viruses are accepted as being alive for the sake of argument, then a drug that interferes with its life could be an antibiotic. Similarly, HCN could be considered an antibiotic if the translation is taken literally, against life. In the same way, chemotherapy is a misnomer. Any drug given with the aim of alleviating disease is a chemotherapeutic intervention. Yet the term has been taken to mean only drug intervention for cancer. How about resistance to star anise derivatives instead? I’ve always thought that ‘Antibiotic’ is something of a misnomer. Realy, it should be antibacterial or antifungal. If viruses are accepted as being alive for the sake of argument, then a drug that interferes with its life could be an antibiotic. Similarly, HCN could be considered an antibiotic if the translation is taken literally, against life.

In the same way, chemotherapy is a misnomer. Any drug given with the aim of alleviating disease is a chemotherapeutic intervention. Yet the term has been taken to mean only drug intervention for cancer.

How about resistance to star anise derivatives instead?

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