How Ancient Viruses are Rewriting the DNA of Coral Symbionts
Scientists have recently discovered an ancient virus in coral symbionts—tiny algae that live inside coral—which could help us understand more about how coral reefs developed over millions of years. The virus, called a ‘gemycircularvirus’, is the oldest virus ever discovered in coral symbionts and is estimated to be around 50 million years old. The virus is unique in that it is composed of both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA, a feature that has not been observed in any other coral virus. This discovery could help us better understand the evolution of coral reefs and the role of viruses in this process.
source: Phys.org