Never-before-seen GIANT virus found that’s so unusual it may have come from Mars
The Pandoravirus is one micrometre big – ten times the size of other viruses
It is found underwater but is not considered a threat to humans
The virus has been spotted off the coast of Chile and in an Australian pond
Only six per cent of its genes resemble those seen before on Earth
By Emma Innes
PUBLISHED: 04:53 EST, 19 July 2013 | UPDATED: 10:41 EST, 19 July 2013
Scientists have found a new virus thought to be the biggest ever seen on Earth.
The virus, dubbed Pandoravirus, is one micrometre big – up to ten times the size of other viruses – and only six per cent of its genes resemble anything seen on Earth before.
This has led French researchers to believe the virus may have come from an ancient time or even another planet, such as Mars.