Radiolab Shrink
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Nov 24, 2023 
Science writer Carl Zimmer, known for his engaging storytelling on evolutionary biology, joins the hosts for a deep dive into the world of giant viruses. They discuss how these colossal microbes challenge conventional definitions of life and blur the lines between living and non-living entities. Zimmer reveals fascinating discoveries like Mimivirus and Pandora virus, leading to questions about evolution potentially going backwards. The conversation is sprinkled with humor and insights, making complex topics accessible and intriguing.
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Bradford Coccus
- Microbiologist Timothy Rowbotham found an unknown bacteria-like organism in a hospital cooling tower.
- He couldn't grow it, so he gave samples to French colleagues.
Mimivirus
- Rowbotham's colleagues discovered the organism was a giant virus, hundreds of times bigger than any known virus.
- This challenged the prior belief that viruses were always small.
Mimivirus' Genes
- The giant virus, named Mimivirus, had over 1,000 genes, unlike typical viruses with around 10.
- Its DNA resembled viral DNA, not bacterial DNA.