Giant viruses with unknown genes are coming back to life. 4th ESO

We should be talking about health but this crazy end of the academical year leaves us no time. I have recently learnt about the discovery of this giant virus buried in the Siberian permafrost for 30,000 years and would like to share it with you.  Just in case you are curious and have a couple of minutes. 

It is connected to our last project about environment

Changing Climate: Growing Threat?

If long-buried viruses can be unearthed, what else might be capable of coming to the surface? Climate change as well as industrial activities may shake up the ancient ice enough to bring potential pathogens to the surface.

"Mining and drilling means ... digging through these ancient layers for the first time in millions of years. If 'viable' [viral particles] are still there, this is a good recipe for disaster," said Claverie and Abergel.

But Edward Mocarski, a professor of microbiology at Emory University, says the risk of a virus pathogenic to humans being released from the ice is very small.

You can read whole article from National Gographic