Mimivirus

It has been long thought that viruses were tiny and they needed host cells in other to replicate and carry out cellular functions. However, the discovery of mimivrus challenged all previously held assumptions. Well, this virus was mistaken for a gram-positive bacteria due to its sophisticated organelles and size. However, in 2003, a scientist from France isolated it from an amoeba and extract a sample from a water cooling tower. He placed it under high resolution microscope and to his horror, he discovered that it was actually a monstrous virus. A virus that was GI-NORMOUS.

Having the largest capsid diameter, this overweighted virus contains at least 900 genes- bigger than that of a bacterium. Until now, little is known about this unusual virus which is one of its kind. The fact that it houses so many genes led some people to think that it might be the missing link between bacteria and viruses. It may even have self-replicated in the early stages, given its rich components.

Although it has been linked to pneumonia in humans, it is in no way related to the SARS virus that swept the Far East.

MIMIVIRUS? Definitely not MINI.