Scientists plan to reanimate a 30,000-year-old giant virus that has been found preserved in the frozen wastelands of Siberia, one of several pre-historic viruses to have been unearthed in the last 15 years. But while the researchers believe the finding will be of great scientific interest, they warned that the effects of climate change were likely to unearth more such microscopic pathogens, a reality which could pose an increased threat for the spread of disease.
Reporting this week in the flagship journal of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, French researchers announced the discovery of Mollivirus sibericum, the fourth type of pre-historic virus found since 2003 — and the second by this team.
Before waking it, researchers will have to verify that the bug cannot cause animal or human disease. “A few viral particles that are still infectious may be enough, in the presence of a vulnerable host, to revive potentially pathogenic viruses,” one of the lead researchers, Jean-Michel Claverie, told AFP.
To qualify as a “giant,” a virus has to be longer than half a micron, a thousandth of a millimeter or 0.00002 of an inch. Mollivirus sibericum — “soft virus from Siberia” — comes in at 0.6 microns, and was found in the permafrost of northeastern Russia.
That virus wiped out the dinosaurs! Don’t open that bottle, AIIIEEE!!
Well maybe not that bad, maybe it is, who knows?
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That virus is big enough to have viruses of its own.
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Could see what Carl Zimmer might have written about giant viruses.
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I did a search at his site and got nothing.
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I’m surprised.
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http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-mollivirus-sibericum-giant-virus-03221.html
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@ the Nuevo Vallarta. Sunny.
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Two trips to the grocery store leaves no time for stick walking tonight.
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Hotter than Hell here, 100+, even the Bay Area is baking in the heat.
I’m heading over to Nevada in the ArrrVeee for a couple days to check out some land, needless to say response will be spotty, I will post ahead tonite so you guys don’t blow out the walls with comments, *he snickers*
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On occasion Hell freezes over.
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Den, why did you move the RV last night? Again tonight?
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Woah! I sleep in the ArrrVeee at a friends house, and spend my days in the Industrial Park during the day due to the conveniences there, like my fridge and shower.
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This is for safety?
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The industrial Park landlord does not want tennants sleeping on the premises, I got by with 6 months, *he snickers*, now biting the bullet with remote sleeping quarters, drat!
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Google street view, the place directly in line with the exit sign, toward the mountains out back.
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Possible relocation analysis under way.
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Floods in Tokyo.
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