Scientists discover 1,445 new viruses
Print Edition
CHINESE scientists have discovered 1,445 new RNA virus species, a find expected to benefit future studies in virus evolution and the origins of life.
The research was led by a team of scientists at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with the results published online yesterday in the journal Nature.
The discovery of the new virus species will challenge current rules in classifying viruses, said Zhang Yongzhen, researcher with the center’s National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention.
The team found the new viruses by studying more than 220 invertebrate species, a wide range of creatures, including insects, accounting for 95 percent of all animals, Zhang said.
Some of the viruses can be classified as new virus families, given their differences to known virus species, Zhang said, adding that the discovery enriches diversities of RNA viruses.
The research also revealed the co-evolution of viruses and hosts — cells that harbors viruses — as well as the way hosts switch viruses as they evolve, which is likely to revolutionize people’s understanding of the origins of life, said Xu Jianqing, professor at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at Fudan University.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
