Scientists "resurrected" the virus 48,500 years ago

China News Network, November 25 Comprehensive report, an international team of scientists has successfully "resurrected" a prehistoric giant virus that has been frozen for 48,500 years, and warned that thawed permafrost may pose a threat
to human beings.

According to the British magazine "New Scientist", the team successfully "resurrected" 7 viruses that have been frozen in the Siberian permafrost for tens of thousands of years, the youngest frozen for 27,000 years, and the oldest for 48,500 years
.
The team of scientists believes that this is the oldest virus
"resurrected" to date.

"48,500 years is a world record," said
Jean-Michel Claverie, professor emeritus of genomics at the University of Aix-Marseille in France, a team member.

According to Russia Today (RT), the viruses revived by the team belong to the "pandoravirus type", a giant virus
that can infect single-celled organisms such as amoebas.
Studies have found that these ancient viruses can infect living cells
after spending tens of thousands of years in permafrost.

This means that other viruses could also remain contagious to plants, animals and even humans, scientists warn — that [viruses] frozen there could be released and "resurrected.
"
"It's a real danger, bacteria and viruses pop up every day," Claveri added
.

The team, which includes scientists from Russia, France and Germany, has previously successfully "resurrected" two other 30,000-year-old giant prehistoric viruses
.

Russia has previously warned of the dangers
of continued thawing permafrost caused by climate change.
Moscow considers the danger serious enough to launch a biosafety project and has called on other Arctic Council countries to join it
.