Megavirus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Megavirus |
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| Virus classification | |
| Group: |
Group I (dsDNA)
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| (unranked): |
Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses
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| Family: |
Megaviridae
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| Genus: |
Megavirus
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| Species | |
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Megavirus chilensis |
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Megavirus is a type of virus that has only one known species, called Megavirus chilensis. This virus is often just called "Megavirus" for short. It is like a close relative to another large virus known as Mimivirus.
For a long time, Megavirus was known as the biggest virus ever found. It had the largest outer shell, called a capsid, and the biggest and most complicated set of genetic instructions, known as its genome. However, in 2013, scientists discovered even larger viruses called pandoraviruses.
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What is Megavirus?
Megavirus is a fascinating example of a "giant virus." These viruses are much larger than typical viruses. They can even be seen with a regular light microscope, unlike most viruses which need powerful electron microscopes.
Discovery and Size
Scientists first found Megavirus in 2010. They discovered it in the ocean off the coast of Chile. This is why its full name is Megavirus chilensis.
When it was first found, Megavirus broke records for its size. Its outer shell, or capsid, was about 680 nanometers wide. To give you an idea, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter! This made it bigger than some very small bacteria.
What Makes Megavirus Special?
Megavirus is not just big in size; it also has a huge genome. A genome is like a complete instruction manual for an organism. Megavirus has about 1.26 million base pairs in its DNA. These base pairs are the building blocks of its genetic code.
This large genome means Megavirus has many more genes than most viruses. It has about 1,120 genes. For comparison, the flu virus has only about 11 genes. These extra genes allow Megavirus to do many complex things that smaller viruses cannot. For example, it can make some of the proteins it needs to copy itself, which is unusual for a virus.
How it Compares to Other Viruses
Before 2013, Megavirus held the record for the largest known viral genome. But then, pandoraviruses were discovered. Pandoraviruses have even larger genomes, with some having over 2.5 million base pairs. This shows that the world of viruses is full of surprises, and scientists are always finding new and amazing things.
Where Does Megavirus Live?
Megavirus was found in the ocean. It infects tiny single-celled organisms called amoebas. Amoebas are like microscopic animals that live in water. When Megavirus infects an amoeba, it takes over the amoeba's machinery to make more copies of itself.
Why Study Giant Viruses?
Studying giant viruses like Megavirus helps scientists understand more about life itself. Their large genomes and complex features blur the lines between viruses and other simple life forms. They might even give us clues about how life evolved on Earth.
Images for kids
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A robot, symbolizing the complex machinery of viruses.
