Medusa computer virus

How could Medusavirus have acquired histones—and not just one, but all five types that are present in complex cells? One theory is the virus acquired the genes from complex cells, such as the amoeba it infects. Although unicellular, amoebas have complex-enough cells to be categorized as complex life. They have histones. By comparing the genome of the Medusavirus with the amoeba it infects, the team found 57 examples of gene transfer.

But out of 57 likely gene transfers, only 12 seemed to be cases of the virus taking genes from the amoeba. In 13 cases, the virus seemed to have given the gene to the amoeba. The direction of transfer was unclear in the rest. As more and more giant viruses have been discovered, scientists have started to wonder whether some genes in living organisms actually came from ancient viruses.

Viruses are not traditionally considered alive, because they lack the cellular machinery to replicate on their own. But scientists have found giant viruses with genes for building proteins , which are necessary for replication. The Lausannevirus that Greub discovered also has genes for histones.

Other viruses have yet other genes important to life. If living organisms got genes from viruses, that would be a radical inversion of previous hypotheses about their origin. Scientists have suggested that viruses might be degenerate versions of living cells that lost most of their cellular machinery, retaining only their protein capsule and genetic material. Or that viruses might be mere fragments of cells that broke off and are unable to replicate on their own.

But if histones and enzymes for synthesizing DNA originated in viruses, then they might have been present when life first began in primordial soup. They might be one reason life on this planet exists at all. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest. The Atlantic Crossword. Supergirl tried to warn Lena Luthor about her adoptive mother Lillian, revealing her as the head scientist of Cadmus who was planning to exterminate all extraterrestrial life on Earth.

Lena then concocted a plan to stop Lillian. Feigning her allegiance to Cadmus, Lena seemingly handed over Isotope to Lillian and launched the missile containing the virus. Supergirl attempted to stop the missile before it detonated, but failed.

However, none of the aliens in the city were harmed as Lena had secretly switched out the isotope, rendering the virus inert. The police then arrived, having been called beforehand by Lena, and arrested Lillian. Using a sample of the virus, Eliza was able to reverse-engineer it to create a cure, saving Mon-El's life. She was also able to modify the virus and use it to eradicate the White Martian blood cells from J'onn's blood, restoring his Green Martian form. The Medusa virus was designed to kill any species not native to Krypton as a last defense against invaders.

When Project Cadmus reproduced the virus, they reprogrammed it so it also wouldn't harm humans. Daxamites can survive exposure to the virus longer than other species due to them having similar physiologies to Kryptonians , but they will ultimately die unless cured.

The virus cannot be transmitted between organisms and only infects its targets with direct contact when aerosolized. Once contracted, the virus kills its victims in seconds. If utilized properly, the Medusa virus can also destroy alien species on a cellular level, as shown when Eliza Danvers used a modified sample of it to destroy the White Martian cells in J'onn J'onzz 's bloodstream, preventing the Green Martian from completely transitioning into a White.

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