The 30 Thousand-Year-Old Giant Virus Started the Discussion. It was announced that the virus, which was frozen under a 30-meter ice layer in Siberia, became contagious again after it came back to life.
The 30 Thousand-Year-Old Giant Virus Started the Discussion. Professor of the Scientific Research Center at the University of Aix-Marseille, France. "It's the first time we've seen a virus that's still contagious after such a long time," said Jean-Michel Claverie.
Claverie said that the virus does not pose any danger to humans or animals, it only affects single-celled organisms.
The virus was determined to be "Pithovirus sibericum", which belongs to the class of giant viruses whose existence was recently discovered.
Giant viruses, unlike others, are large enough to be seen with a microscope.
The virus, which is about 1,5 micrometers long, was recorded as the largest virus ever found.
Pointing out that more deadly viruses can be found under the ice layers in Siberia, scientists warned that the ice layers are melting due to global warming, and that the region may face a great threat in the coming years.
The research was published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences".
Source : AA
Günceleme: 07/03/2014 00:29
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