Philippine Blog Awards 2010Mega Virus Chilensis is Biggest DNA Virus in the World
October 11, 2011 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Mega Virus Chilensis was discovered in the sea off Chile and it’s the biggest in the world according to surprised scientists on Monday.
A mega virus chilensis (MGVC) is a viral genus containing a single identified species, phylogenetically related to Acanthamoeba polyphaga Mimivirus (APMV). In colloquial speech, MGVC is more commonly referred to as just “Mega virus”. It has the largest capsid diameter of all known viruses, as well as the largest and most complex genome among all known viruses.
Harbouring more than 1,000 genes, the genome of Mega virus chilensis is 6.5 percent bigger than the DNA code of the previous virus record-holder, Mimivirus, isolated in 2003.
Usually, viruses are far smaller and cannot reproduce on their own unlike the bacteria. However, the Mega virus Chilensis is such a giant that it surpasses many bacteria in size and genetically the most complex DNA virus ever described.
Unlike other DNA viruses like pox viruses and herpes viruses, intial study says the Mega virus Chilensis doesn’t seem to be harmful for humans.
