Lead
The 2022 Northern Hemisphere heatwave has just passed, temperatures have risen, and some areas that were originally covered in snow and ice are showing signs of melting, but in the Arctic Canada, scientists have discovered a giant virus called Pithovirus sibericum in Milne Fiord Epishelf Lake, which is about 1.5 microns in diameter, more than a dozen times the size of human bacteria, and it also has hundreds of genes.
The origin of this virus has become the focus of attention for scientists, because the impact of its existence on the biosphere is obvious to all, but what are these effects and what kind of impact will they have on the planet?
And in the past few years, a variety of germs have emerged in the Arctic, most of which are extracted from glaciers and permafrost, and how harmful are these germs?
Why have there been so many pathogens in recent years?
1. Giant virus.
Under the observation of scientists, the giant virus in Milne Fiord Epishelf Lake does not swim in the lake, but relies on a cyanobacteria in the lake water, and this cyanobacteria has obviously changed under the action of the giant virus, because in the body of the virus, scientists have also found some genes that the virus shares with the cyanobacteria.
These shared genes largely prove the relationship between this virus and cyanobacteria, and in humans, there are also some genes shared with viruses, most of which are related to the replication and reproduction of viruses, which can be said to be the result of co-evolution between viruses and humans for a long time.
In the human body, there are many bacteria that are harmful to the human body, but they do not cause great harm to the human body, at most they cause some mild diseases, but the number of this virus is the largest, and their role is very extensive.
There are many beneficial bacteria in the human gut that can help human digestion, and they are still very numerous, but there is no mechanism in the human body to resist the invasion of these bacteria, which means that once the number of these bacteria is too large, it will affect the survival of human beings.
Although the human immune system is very strong in fighting these bacteria, their number is irresistible, and in the tissues of the human body, there may also be some dead cells, the number of these dead cells is also very huge, and their resistance to bacteria is very small, so they are easily eroded by bacteria.
In the process of interacting with bacteria, these dead cells will produce some chemical reactions, and these reactions will increase the number of bacteria, and eventually pose a threat to the survival of the human body.
In fact, in the human body, there is also a mechanism to fight bacteria, that is, blood, human blood is rich in proteins and antibodies, these substances can effectively resist the erosion of bacteria, prevent the proliferation of bacteria, so as to protect the survival of the human body.
Moreover, these substances can also help the body's immune system to recognize and excrete bacteria, but the number of these substances is limited, and once the number of bacteria is too large, it will pose a great threat to the survival of the human body.
2. The source of the virus.
Under the observation of scientists, the origin of the giant virus is largely due to their genetic diversity, because among the genes of the giant virus, scientists have also found a gene called "megaphage".
This gene is a gene with a huge effect, it can interfere with the replication process of the virus, thereby preventing the reproduction of the virus, but in the genes of the giant virus, scientists have not found this gene, which means that this gene does not play a role in the replication process of the giant virus, and in the genes of the giant virus, there are some genes that can promote the reproduction of the virus.
These genes are likely to be the cause of the outbreak of the number of giant viruses, and the number of giant viruses is very large, which means that they have a very strong ability to reproduce, and in the body of the virus, scientists have also found a gene called "virophage", which is similar to the gene of "megaphage", but there are very big differences between them.
The genes for this "virophage" resonate with the genes of bacteria, which means that there is a very strong interaction between them, and this interaction can also promote the multiplication of bacteria and viruses, which leads to an increase in the number of both.
The genes of this "virophage" are very large in the genes of the giant virus, so they have a very strong ability to reproduce, and in the genes of the giant virus, there are also genes that can resonate with the giant virus, and these genes have very strong interactions with each other.
The energy generated by this interaction can cancel out the energy of the virus, so that the number of viruses is constantly increasing, and in the body of viruses, scientists have also found some genes that can promote the interaction between viruses and bacteria, and these genes have very strong interactions, they are able to promote the interaction between viruses and bacteria, so that the number of both is increasing.
However, in the case of viruses, scientists have not found a gene that can resonate with the number of viruses, which means that there is no mechanism to control the number of viruses as the number of viruses increases.
3. The dangers of global warming.
In the past few years, a variety of germs have emerged in the Arctic, most of which are extracted from glaciers and permafrost, and how harmful are these germs?
These germs are found in glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic region, mainly because the temperature in the Arctic region is very low, and this cold environment is able to effectively inhibit the reproduction of bacteria and viruses, thereby reducing their harm to living things.
However, as global temperatures rise, glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic begin to melt, which increases the number of these bacteria and viruses, thus posing a threat to life.
In the glaciers and permafrost of the Arctic region, there are also some sealed animal remains, and the remains of these animals are likely to carry some deadly germs, once these germs enter the human body, it will pose a threat to human survival.
And in the Arctic region, there are some unknown bacteria and viruses, their numbers are very large, these bacteria and viruses in a low temperature environment, can effectively inhibit their reproduction, but with the rise of global temperatures, their numbers will continue to increase, and eventually threaten the survival of organisms.
The increase in global temperature will also have an impact on the marine ecosystem, the ocean is rich in fish resources, these fish play a very important role in the survival of human beings, but with the increase in global temperature, the water temperature in the ocean is also rising, which makes the living environment of fish is threatened.
In the Arctic region, there is a fish called polar cod, which is a very hardy fish, they survive in the frozen seas, they can effectively resist the cold, and polar cod is also a very tasty fish, they play a very important role in the survival of humans.
But as the global temperature rises, the frozen seas are melting, which makes the number of polar cod continue to decrease, eventually leading to the extinction of polar cod, and in the ocean, there are some spawning fish, they survive in the frozen seas, can effectively resist the invasion of cold, but as the global temperature rises, their numbers are also decreasing, eventually leading to their extinction.
As a result, fish stocks in the ocean are decreasing, resulting in the collapse of marine ecosystems and threatening the survival of human beings.
The increase in global temperature also has an impact on the monsoon, which is a very important climate system that plays a very important role in the survival of human beings, but as the global temperature rises, the intensity of the monsoon also increases, making the temperature hotter and hotter.
In the survival of human beings, many areas rely on monsoon irrigation, but with the increase in global temperature, the intensity of the monsoon is also increasing, which reduces the amount of monsoon precipitation, so that the surface moisture is insufficient, which will lead to drought on the surface and threaten global agriculture.
epilogue
The impact of rising global temperature on the biosphere is very widespread, not only for the extinction of polar animals, but also for ecosystems such as marine life, ocean currents and monsoons, and human beings need to think carefully and take action to slow down the damage to ecosystems caused by global temperatures, otherwise humanity will face an unprecedented existential crisis.
In addition to paying attention to the environmental problems brought about by climate change, we should also pay attention to researching and monitoring the spread of pathogens, strengthen the global health security system, and prevent pandemics.