Biowarfare

[John Smith]

Patrick J. Maher wrote... 
> A microbe with a 100% kill rate would be very devistating indeed, but
it's
> this devistation that would lead to it's downfall.  If it killed everyone
> it came into contact with, it'd probably kill off its carries before the
> whole species was eradicated.  
> A couple of things would make this all much worse, 
> 1)  The disease killed
> very slowly allowing the carrier to pass it on to many people, 

Disease organisms with this trait are known,
and latency could be artificially engineered
into most organisms. HIV.

> 2)  the
> microbe could be passed on very easily, for example, through the air,  

Disease organisms with this trait are 
well known too. Cough sneeze. Flu.

> 3) even a dead carrier is infectious.

Disease organisms with this trait are known as well.
Anthrax and Smallpox can survive many years
in a dead victim, in soil, or on surfaces.

> These characteristics would make the
> microbe very devistating, but what would probably happen is an isolated
> group(s) would survive and be able to repopulate.  The isolation could be
> physical of genetic (ie immunity due to genetic variation).
> Well, if that made any sense and answered your question, your welcome
> 
> Patrick
> 
If genetic engineering is used to amplify the
microbial characteristics you have identified as
ideal for the Doomday Bug is it quite possible
that total extinction could be achieved.

-John Smith