A new giant virus that is listed on the Earth from Mars

Scientists have identified a new virus, which was the largest ever studied. The virus, dubbed Pandoravirus, almost ten times more than other viruses, and only 6% of its genome are similar to genes in other organisms existing on Earth.

In this regard, French researchers have suggested that the virus has ever survived from very ancient times, a hit to Earth from another planet, such as Mars.

Giant virus can only be found under the water, and scientists believe that it does not pose a serious risk to humans. However, researchers who published their findings in "Science" magazine, believe that the virus opens up a number of questions about the history of life on Earth.

Dr. Jean-Michel Claviere, from the French University of Aix-Marseille (Aix-Marseille University), who found the virus, NPR's said: "We believe that an open contact Pandoravirus formed of cellular structures that no longer exist."

Sizes of most terrestrial viruses are ranging from 10 to 500 nanometers (nm). Dimensions Pandoravirusa exceed 1000 nm. This means that the virus is large enough to consider it to be a normal school microscope.

Claviere explained that the virus is very high, and has an irregular shape that is generally unusual for viruses. Because of this, he thought at first that it is a small bacterium, not a virus. A team of researchers went on a hunt for a giant virus after traces of it were found in seawater. Scientists took samples of sediments off the coast of Chile and from a pond in Australia. In the laboratory, they added to the water antibiotic to kill the bacteria present. Then, samples in which no more bacteria, amoebae added. When single-celled organisms have died, researchers have seen that in the samples is something non-bacterial origin. Thus, scientists have discovered and Pandoravirus.

After examining him, the research team discovered that the genetic code of the virus had twice megavirus which previously was considered the largest ever found. However, an even greater shock scientists cast the fact that only six percent of the genes of the new virus resemble the genes of other organisms on Earth.

According to scientific experts, the virus is likely to have an extraterrestrial origin. Researchers still do not know why this has become a form of cell virus.