Scientists attempt to birth an ancient virus

Researchers have resurrected an ancient retrovirus that apparently plagued our ancestors millions of years ago.

The study is being conducted at the Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France, led by Thierry Heidmann. According to them, the virus is "wimpy" and we have most likely built up resistances to the virus. Others protest, saying that awakening any long dead disease or virus is inherently risky and that Heidmann and his team moved too quickly.

This is, frankly, scary stuff here. We seem to have once again run into the wall of science vs morality. I tend to stray towards the side of science in most matters. If we can clone organs and cure cancer I say start an assembly line and churn those kidneys out. But I draw the line at making illness. Personally I don't see much difference in custom making a virus as a bioweapon and reviving a long dead human endogenous retrovirus (HERV).

Just because we can split an atom doesn't mean we should.

Put on your thinking cap because there's some science after the jump.

\\drew