New archeal virus infects primitive bacteria living off methane underground . The virus has genes that speed up its own mutation rate helping it to adapt . Scientists believe it holds the key to life surviving in extreme environments . They discovered the virus in samples taken from beneath the Santa Monica Basin off the coast of Norway but say the viruses live around the world .
New archeal virus infects primitive bacteria living off methane underground . The virus has genes that speed up its own mutation rate helping it to adapt . Scientists believe it holds the key to life surviving in extreme environments . They discovered the virus in samples taken from beneath the Santa Monica Basin off the coast of California but say the viruses live around the world .