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Songbird Fossil Virus May Help Predict Pandemics

Posted by samzenpus on from the oldest-medicine dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers announced they found a fossil virus hiding in the most unexpected place: the chromosomes of several songbird species. This ancient virus resembles human hepatitis B virus. Finding this ancient virus will catalyze new lines of inquiry that may help scientists predict and prevent future human viral pandemics that originate in birds."

2 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. Songbird? by a_hanso · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Does anybody use that anymore? Let me know when iTunes is infected

  2. Oblig. monty python by complete+loony · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped.
    Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

    --
    09F91102 no, 455FE104 nope, F190A1E8 uh-uh, 7A5F8A09 that's not it, C87294CE no. Ah! 452F6E403CDF10714E41DFAA257D313F.