Much of world's oxygen is by-product of bacteria suffering from virus infections

Washington, April 2 : Scientists have said that some of the oxygen we breathe today is being produced because of viruses infecting micro-organisms in the world's oceans.

This statement was given by scientists at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

According to the scientists, tiny photosynthesising creatures called phytoplankton in the major oceans are producing about half the world's oxygen.

These organisms are also responsible for removing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and locking it away in their bodies, which sink to the bottom of the ocean when they die, removing it forever and limiting global warming.

"In major parts of the oceans, the micro-organisms responsible for providing oxygen and locking away carbon dioxide are actually single celled bacteria called cyanobacteria," said Professor Nicholas Mann of the University of Warwick.

"These organisms, which are so important for making our planet inhabitable, are attacked and infected by a range of different types of viruses," he added.

The researchers have identified the genetic codes of these viruses using molecular techniques and discovered that some of them are responsible for providing the genetic material that codes for key components of photosynthesis machinery.

According to says Professor Mann, "It is beginning to become to clear to us that at least a proportion of the oxygen we breathe is a by-product of the bacteria suffering from a virus infection."

"Instead of being viewed solely as evolutionary bad guys, causing diseases, viruses appear to be of central importance in the planetary process. In fact they may be essential to our survival," he added.

ANI