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musiclover420
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Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia 3
#22373777 - 10/13/15 02:40 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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and they're changing everything we thought we knew about them
Article
Quote:
Melting ice in the Arctic circle has been thawing out some gigantic ancient viruses.
Last month, researchers announced they were studying a 30,000-year-old giant virus called Mollivirus sibericum that they found in melted Siberian permafrost. The virus was functional and able to infect amoeba.
This isn't the first time researchers have found big viruses that have challenged what we thought we knew about the tiny invaders. Mimivirus, discovered in 2003, has 1,200 genes and is twice the width of traditional viruses.
But it was this most recently discovered virus which prompted several outlets to suggest that once it thawed out, it could escape and make lots of people sick.
We recently chatted with New York Times columnist and "A Planet of Viruses" author Carl Zimmer to see what he thought about the discovery. In terms of its potential risk to people, he said we don't need to be concerned. But he said the finding is fascinating for several other reasons, including what it tells us about viruses in general.
"These particular viruses infect amoeba. So if you're an amoeba, yeah you should be really scared," Zimmer told Business Insider. "There are no human pathogens that have burst out of the Siberian permafrost. That's not to say that viruses won't emerge, but there are so many viruses circulating in living animals, I think we should put these frozen viruses very low on our list of concerns."
Instead, Zimmer said they were more fascinating than scary.
These viruses are about 30 times bigger than your average virus, rivaling the size of a bacterium. Here's a shot of Mollivirus sibericum under the microscope:

Quote:
In addition to its unusual size, Mollivirus sibericum has other components which separate it from the vast majority of viruses. It has more than 500 genes, for example, which give the virus instructions for making proteins. By contrast, HIV has just 9 genes.
"They're in and of themselves fascinating and they really challenge us to think about what viruses are," said Zimmer.
Viruses are technically not considered alive, but these giant viruses do seem to have some of the qualities of being alive, like a functioning metabolism. If we're ever going to rethink the characteristics of viruses, these giant thawed-out viruses will be the ones to make us do it.
Thought it was an interesting read so I figured I would share. Pretty crazy a virus has 1200+ genes, that seems pretty complex for one but I don't really know.
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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Lophosaurus
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Registered: 08/09/07
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: musiclover420]
#22373897 - 10/13/15 03:13 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Uh oh. We're all doomed.
A couple years ago they were imploding an old hospital near me so I walked down to watch it. As soon as it collapsed and the dust spread, I got this feeling that I was inhaling old viruses that were laying dormant. I was kind of worried about it for a while and it still gives me the heebie jeebies when I think about it
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Lofetospoon9
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: musiclover420]
#22373906 - 10/13/15 03:15 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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That's very interesting
-------------------- 1) All living things are highly organized and contain many complex chemical substances. 2) All living things contain one or more cells 3) All living things use energy. 4) Living things have a definite form and have a limited size. 5) Living things grow. 6) Living things respond to changes in the environment. 7) Living things can reproduce. 8) Living things eventually die.
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Bambi
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: musiclover420]
#22373921 - 10/13/15 03:17 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Carl Zimmer is an awesome dude.
I've read about the previous biggies of the viral world, but these guys are huge.
Looking forward to hearing more about them in the future.
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"I want to read, talk with my friends via the computer, and enjoy my life now that people know I'm not dead. " -Rom Houben
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musiclover420
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: Lophosaurus]
#22374149 - 10/13/15 04:07 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Lophosaurus said: Uh oh. We're all doomed.
"These particular viruses infect amoeba. So if you're an amoeba, yeah you should be really scared," Zimmer told Business Insider.

It would be crazy if some ancient super virus emerged and fucked everything up though.
I definitely will be looking out for more info in the future, microbiology is some cool stuff.
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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Mr.PhilCybin
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: musiclover420]
#22374348 - 10/13/15 04:49 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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interesting article
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musiclover420
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Re: Giant, ancient viruses are thawing out in Siberia [Re: Mr.PhilCybin]
#22374480 - 10/13/15 05:13 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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'Tis good stuff knowledge is.
-------------------- Don't worry about me, I've got all that I need. And I'm singing my song to the sky You know how it feels, With the breeze of the sun in your eyes. Not minding that time's passing by I've got all and more, My smile, just as before. Is all that I carry with me I talk to myself, I need nobody else. I'm lost and I'm mine, yes I'm free
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