Researchers discover 1,500 new viruses, invertebrates

[Ink]

See findings http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature20167.html

An international research team led from Australia and China has discovered nearly 1,500 new viruses.
The scientists looked for evidence of virus infection in a group of animals called invertebrates, which includes insects and spiders.
Not only does the study expand the catalogue of known viruses, it also indicates they have existed for billions of years.

Src: Bumper load of new viruses identified - BBC News
Few would argue that all living species on Earth are susceptible to viruses – these microscopic parasites are ubiquitous.

But virologists have long suspected that our current view of the diversity of viruses is blinkered – all too often constrained to those causing disease in humans, animals and plants, or to those that we can grow in the laboratory.

A trip to a tropical rainforest or the African savannah gives a snapshot into the incredible diversity of visible life on Earth, but understanding the potentially mind-boggling myriad of minuscule viruses has not been so easy.

Capturing new viruses is not like netting a new species of butterfly – viruses are invisible.

Undeterred by this practical problem an international team was keen to survey invertebrates for new viral species.

 

[ForgottenSeer 55474]

Nice post,Thank you for sharing

 

[jogs]

Just my opinion.
New micro organisms are being introduced to our planet to maintain the balance. Our activities have created a havoc on this planet and these micro organisms could help. There would be microbes that will take in the CO2 and turn it back to O2, same with other chemicals. Microbes are basic protection system of our planet. They were the first life forms on our planet and helped create a conducive atmosphere for other kinds of species including us. The process still goes on.

 

[Fritz]

The period that allowed humankind to change its surroundings has actually been far too short to spring forth entirely new organisms. You have to take into account that this planet has been a hellhole for the better part of its existence and live thrived back then as well, in seas of molten rock and caustic soil. The little bit of crap we added within the last 100 years really is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, we tend to see it from a human perspective and would like to see us remain in that picture as well, but that's not a planetary requirement. We could nuke the entire place to hell, yet the tardigrade and Deinococcus radiodurans wouldn't drop a single afternoon tea for it. The former resists ionizing radiation up to 4,000 gy, the latter shrugs at a solid helping of 15,000 gy. A mere dose of 5 gy would reduce a human to a pulp.

The planet doesn't care, it's just there. Life cares about itself, but not about its shape or form really. It just goes on, that's all there is to it.