Meet the world's largest virus

[Still Waters]

French researchers have found a new kind of virus so big they initially thought it must be something else.

The startling discovery, which upends some long-held assumptions about the nature of viruses — namely, that they are small — led the scientists to give it a fitting name: Pandoravirus.

"We believe we're opening a Pandora's box — not so much for humanity but for dogma about viruses," Dr. Jean-Michel Claverie, a co-author of the paper, tells the New York Times. "We believe we're touching an alternative tree of life."

http://theweek.com/a...s-largest-virus

[Zaphod222]

I thought a virus is a life form already.

[ash68]

They should have a chat with it they may learn something interesting but don't tell it it's a virus,it may get upset

[shrooma]

I thought a virus is a life form already.

.

they're not considered to be a life-form Zaph because of their reproductive cycle, they can't manage it on their own, and have to hijack the cells of other organisms to reproduce.

dunno why the article seems to think that because it's larger, it's a better chance of being classified as being 'alive'?

i mean, mount everest is ****ing enormous, but i wouldn't bank on it lending me a tenner!

ask any woman, she'll tell you that size isn't everything.

(but she might smirk while she's saying it.....)

Edited July 20, 2013 by shrooma

[Zaphod222]

ask any woman, she'll tell you that size isn't everything.

(but she might smirk while she's saying it.....)

Well. My wife says that quality matters, not quantity.

I guess she is diplomatic :-)

[shrooma]

Well. My wife says that quality matters, not quantity.

I guess she is diplomatic :-)

.

you randy little studmuffin you!!

:-)

.

*edit for server having a brain-fart and double-posting*

Edited July 20, 2013 by shrooma

[ancient astronaut]

It's still alive today, it goes by the name Honey Boo-Boo.

[pallidin]

God save me... I think PETA is right around the corner on this.

[Sundew]

Interesting article, better than the first one I read about this that said this virus came from Mars because it only shares 9% of the DNA normal viruses have.

[Chooky88]

I was dumb enough to argue with my year 11 biology teacher that viruses are alive. It's still my opinion but dumb because he marked by work!

[Lex540]

sweet Mary mother of jesus