Why do scientists keep playing God? From gain-of-function research triggering a global pandemic to now reanimating a 50 thousand year old virus harvested from the Siberian permafrost. What could possibly go wrong?
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Haven’t they learned? What are these scientists thinking?
ZeroHedge reports, over a dozen prehistoric viruses trapped deep within the Siberian permafrost for nearly 50 million years have been revived by French researchers.
In 2014, the same researchers discovered a 30,000-year-old virus trapped in permafrost. It was still able to infect organisms. Scientists have now discovered a 48,500-year-old virus, Pandoravirus yedoma, that broke their own record.
According to the scientists, global warming could result in the release of deadly pathogens from the past, making these “zombie viruses” a public health threat.
Global News reports, these “zombie viruses” may pose a risk to humans, the authors warn. People have already been killed as a result of thawing permafrost.
After an anthrax outbreak in Siberia in 2016, one child died and dozens of people were hospitalized. According to experts, the outbreak was sparked by a heat wave thawing the permafrost and uncovering an anthrax-infected reindeer carcass decades old. The outbreak resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,300 reindeer.
The study’s authors say these amoeba-infecting viruses pose a “negligible” risk to humans. Nevertheless, all ancient viruses aren’t harmless.
As the authors note, searching for viruses found in permafrost-preserved mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, or prehistoric horses is a risky endeavor.
It’s unclear whether these ancient viruses can infect a host once exposed to outdoor conditions like heat, oxygen, and UV rays. Researchers say the chances of such a scenario are increasing as more permafrost thaws and people begin to inhabit the melting Arctic.
Scientists have been playing God for far too long, and it’s time to stop. They keep playing with fire, and sooner or later they’re going to get burned. People have already been killed as a result of thawing permafrost, and there’s no telling what risk these “zombie viruses” may pose to humans. The next global killer virus could be lurking in the ice, just waiting to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world. It’s time for scientists to stop playing with fire and learn from their mistakes. Otherwise, we may all end up paying the ultimate price.
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