Paleogenomic Lab

The figure 1 explains the first experiment made by scientist. This first step was to analyze deeply all genomic material found in caribou feces. The authors’ hypothesis was that caribou ate plants and/or insects that were infected by ancient viruses. Comparing genome sequences extracted from feces with GeneBank, it is approved that no eukaryotic sequences were found advocate the idea that eukaryotic genome is much more sensitive to very low temperatures. They did found some viral genome in form of circular DNA and ssRNA those were not closely related to any “nowadays - existing” viruse . Once scientists confirmed existence of ancient viruses, they identified two new virus particles: ancient caribou feces associated virus called aCFV (circular

1. Authors performed the genome sequencing in 2 different laboratories with different primers and other reagents. They also affirm that in Paleogenomic lab were not preformed any previous viral genome analyzing

Releasing of viral particles proposed by authors, could be devastating to many species. First, because of the time gap between ancient viral infections of plants 700 years ago and now, we cannot be sure of plant response to viral infection. Comparing with other models of coexistence between two species, we could expect that plants as a host in this case, would try to adapt to viral infection or acquire some natural immunity against the virus that would allow them to survive during the evolution. Absence of virus during all this time and its posterior plant infection could be devastating supposing that present day plants do not have any developed defense system against this particular strain or some similar specie. It is also unpredictable the impact of those viruses to population of caribous or any other organism residing in that ecosystem. We could be in danger to release species that could possible provoke biological catastrophe affecting the equilibrium of many