If these abilities were to be transferred to "ordinary" disease-causing bacteria, it could have serious consequences, the researchers say.
- In a possible scenario, these genes can leave this reservoir and ensure the creation and spread of infectious diseases.
Microorganisms in Antarctica have long been of interest to researchers because of the large amount of unknown bacteria that have lain in soil and ice and have not been touched for thousands of years.
But researchers are also worried about the secrets of these ancient bacteria and how they would integrate with humanity if they spread.
Hear the researcher about the risks of the new bacteria in the video above.