what is the life expectancy of viruses?
Hello and Good Morning Everyone,
After reading this scientific article about ancient viruses discovered in a glacier, https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pkebx9/scientists-found-ancient-never-before-seen-viruses-in-a-glacier?utm_campaign=sharebutton&fbclid=IwAR2GPOsedASqwBKRwFpx_KJml5UtmGgam8lKvjB89GX6DXvzErXJP-qMH4E, a question came to mind which was not addressed in it. Basically, I am wondering what the life expectancy or longevity is for viruses. If they have an infinite life expectancy from being preserved in sheets of ice, what would happen if climate changed melted this ice harboring these unknown pathogens which are tens perhaps hundreds of thousands years old and they get released into the environment? To me, it seems logical that all living organisms, including viruses, have a life expectancy. But, I might be wrong on this count. What does everyone else think on this topic?
George
After reading this scientific article about ancient viruses discovered in a glacier, https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pkebx9/scientists-found-ancient-never-before-seen-viruses-in-a-glacier?utm_campaign=sharebutton&fbclid=IwAR2GPOsedASqwBKRwFpx_KJml5UtmGgam8lKvjB89GX6DXvzErXJP-qMH4E, a question came to mind which was not addressed in it. Basically, I am wondering what the life expectancy or longevity is for viruses. If they have an infinite life expectancy from being preserved in sheets of ice, what would happen if climate changed melted this ice harboring these unknown pathogens which are tens perhaps hundreds of thousands years old and they get released into the environment? To me, it seems logical that all living organisms, including viruses, have a life expectancy. But, I might be wrong on this count. What does everyone else think on this topic?
George
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Thank you everyone for sharing your insights and resourceful links. I certainly did learn a great deal from this post :-)
George
George
Wikipedia:
"Tobacco mosaic virus was the first virus to be crystallized. It was achieved by Wendell Meredith Stanley in 1935 who also showed that TMV remains active even after crystallization."