Specialists from the "Arctic Floating University" have determined that Arctic viruses are 30 times larger than usual. The research results are published on the portal «Наука.рф».
Samples with giant viruses were discovered on an island in the Arctic Ocean. The length of the found giant virus is 1500 nanometers. For comparison, the size of the SARS-CoV-2 virion that caused the Covid pandemic is 50–200 nanometers.
Scientists have also determined that giant viruses differ from ordinary ones at the genetic level. The genome of the former almost does not contain those genes that are in viruses of other groups.
It is worth noting that giant viruses were discovered recently, and their study may become a new milestone in microbiology. Scientists suggest that Arctic systems may be carriers of a group of new viruses.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russian microbiologists are looking for giant viruses in the Arctic.
Read materials on the topic:
19 Months in the Arctic: The World's First Russian Expedition on an Ice-Resistant Platform Returns
Ruselectronics Explained Why the US Is Lagging Behind Russia in the Development of the Arctic
