Giant Virus Discovered in Japanese Pond May Hint at Multicellular Life's Origins
4 days ago
- #viral eukaryogenesis
- #giant viruses
- #evolution
- Scientists in Japan discovered a new giant virus named 'ushikuvirus' in a freshwater pond near Tokyo.
- Giant viruses were initially overlooked and misidentified as bacteria due to their size.
- Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, but their evolutionary history remains unclear.
- Viruses can influence evolution by facilitating horizontal gene transfer and inserting DNA into host genomes.
- Ancient retrovirus remnants make up up to 8% of the human genome and may have contributed to key evolutionary developments.
- A theory called viral eukaryogenesis suggests that eukaryotic cell nuclei may have originated from large DNA viruses.
- Giant viruses like ushikuvirus form virus factories inside host cells, resembling eukaryotic nuclei.
- Ushikuvirus infects amoebae and has unique features, such as causing host cells to grow abnormally large.
- The discovery of ushikuvirus may provide insights into the evolution of eukaryotes and giant viruses.