What will happen if the ancient viruses that freeze in the north/south pole are released and spread due to the melting of ice that is millions of years old?

 Hmm, it looks like a plot from some kind of sci-fi movie.

But… unfortunately, it really can happen.

In 2014, French scientists discovered a strange virus in Siberia's 30,000-year-old permafrost .

This virus is very different from the viruses we know. Only a third of its genome is common in viruses, and it does not contain as much DNA as other giant viruses.

The research team named the new virus species Pithovirus , after the ancient Greek " pithos " or wine jars.

Pithovirus is one of, if not the largest virus we have discovered so far. Its diameter is 1.5 micrometers, aka already as big as some types of bacteria and a hundred to a thousand times larger than the size of a virus in general. This virus is even 0.5 micrometers larger than the giant viruses we previously knew, such as Mimivirus, Megavirus, and Pandoravirus.

The three giant viruses are viruses that infect Protozoa, more specifically amoeba (phew). So, scientists are curious whether the Pithovirus is the same. So, they added the amoeba to the culture medium, and….

… the amoeba dies.

The virus can still replicate, even though it's been frozen in the permafrost for 30,000 years!

At least, then, we know one thing: ancient viruses trapped in permafrost or Arctic ice sheets are still possible to replicate when the ice melts and they break free.

However, regarding who their target host is, we still don't know much. Most giant viruses (these are suspected of being buried in the northern ice sheet) infect Protozoa, so humans should be safe.

But again, nature always has surprises.

In 2013, a French virologist discovered that a giant virus of the Marseillevirus type infected an 11-month-old child and caused swelling of the spleen.

As for bacteria, I have never heard of or read of a similar case. But, still the possibility exists.

We just don't have to worry about that. Bacteria and viruses have a specific host, and not necessarily bacteria and viruses trapped in the ice today have a human host and can cause deadly disease.

We'd better tackle the real enemy—the root of the problem, which is global warming.

Until there are dolls.