30,000-year-old
giant virus 'comes back to life'
By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC World
Service
An ancient virus has "come back to life" after
lying dormant for at least 30,000 years, scientists say. It was found frozen in
a deep layer of the Siberian permafrost, but after it thawed it became
infectious once again. The French scientists say the contagion poses no danger
to humans or animals, but other viruses could be unleashed as the ground
becomes exposed. The study is published in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Professor
Jean-Michel Claverie, from the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at
the University of Aix-Marseille in France, said: "This is the first time
we've seen a virus that's still infectious after this length of time."
Read rest here :http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26387276
I
wonder what else could still be revived after 30,000 years.....interesting thought
.
t
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