Ancient Virus Discovered

A team of French scientists is preparing to wake up a 30,000-year-old "giant virus."

11:12 11 September 2015

A team of French scientists has discovered the Mollivirus sibericum virus that has not been awoken since the last Ice Age. The pre-historic virus, which is estimated to be 30,000 years old, was discovered in north-eastern Siberian permafrost.

 

Now, the team from the French National Centre for Scientific Research is checking to ensure that the virus is not harmful to humans or animals as part of the preparation in waking up the giant virus.

 

The team, which also discovered another giant 30,000-year-old virus last year, hopes that studying it could increase understanding of ancient dormant viruses that may spread again in the future as permafrost retreats at the hands of climate change.

 

A summary of their work said: “Analysis of the permafrost sample uncovered the presence of both viruses, yet in very low amount.

 

“The fact that two different viruses retain their infectivity in prehistorical permafrost layers should be of concern in a context of global warming.

 

“Giant viruses’ diversity remains to be fully explored.”