Scientists revive 'giant virus' from Siberian permafrost

Siberia fills the heads of scientists with dreams of resurrection. For millions of years, its tundra has gradually turned to permafrost, entombing animals and other organisms in ice. Some of their remains are exquisitely well-preserved – so well, in fact, that some scientists have nibbled on the meat of woolly mammoths.

Scientists revive 'giant virus' from Siberian permafrost Art-giant-virus-620x349

Scientists revive 'giant virus' from Siberian permafrost Art-giant-virus-620x349

Some researchers even hope to find viable mammoth cells that they can use to clone the animals back from extinction. And in 2012, Russian scientists reported coaxing a seed buried in the permafrost for 32,000 years to sprout into a flower.

Now a team of French and Russian researchers has performed a resurrection of a more sinister nature. From Siberian permafrost more than 30,000 years old, they have revived a virus that is new to science.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/scientists-revive-giant-virus-from-siberian-permafrost-20140304-3418p.html#ixzz2uz0lp5gH

Scientists revive 'giant virus' from Siberian permafrost

Scientists revive 'giant virus' from Siberian permafrost

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