Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the human body, identifying a new class of life within the digestive system. Dubbed “Obelisks,” these tiny organisms were initially thought to be viruses due to their similarities. However, further study revealed they don’t share any known genetic material or structural features with other biological agents.
Initially suspected to be viruses, Obelisks are now considered more likely to be a new and distinct form of life. A team analyzed 30,000 different Obelisks in human microbiomes, finding that 10% of these microorganisms harbor them. This suggests that Obelisks may serve as colonizers for various microbiome communities.
Despite their genetic similarity, Obelisks differ from other known RNA loops, such as viroids. They lack the protein shells necessary for viruses to survive outside cells. The researchers’ paper, available on bioRxiv, highlights a unique feature of Obelisks: they have extensive instructions for coding proteins, taking up at least half of their genetic material.
The origins and host organisms for these new life forms remain unclear. However, further research is needed to determine the significance of this discovery, which may challenge our current understanding of viral biology.
Source: https://bgr.com/science/researchers-just-discovered-an-entirely-new-class-of-life-living-inside-humans