10 - Viruses

Living Eternons

1 Life Everywhere
2 Particles
3 Atoms
4 Molecules
5 Emergence
6 Clays
7 Carbon
8 Macromolecules
9 RNA and DNA
10 Viruses
11 Protocells
12 Cells
13 Plants
14 Animals
15 Humans
16 Lamarkism
17 Darwinism
18 Eternism

10 - Viruses: Invaders from Inner Space

It has the appearance of the lunar module in the Apollo missions. The hexagonal capsule sits atop a cylinder surrounded by six compactly folded legs. It is approaching its objective, a large sluggish animal. Long legs are triggered open and the unit smoothly lands on the surface of the animal. Immediately, the envelope of the animal is perforated and the content of the hexagonal capsule is injected. For about half an hour, nothing happens. Then, the large animal suddenly bursts open. More than a hundred full-size replicas of the assailant pour out and start moving toward nearby victims.

This is no science fiction. It is the invasion of a E. Coli bacterium by one of the most primitive forms of organic life, a virus. Far from being a simple structure, a virus like the phage described above contains millions of atoms. Yet it is among the smallest entities that carry DNA as genetic information.

A virus is not fully equipped to reproduce. It has the necessary plans, but lacks the construction material and finds it in other organisms. Once the DNA of the virus has entered a foreign cell, it takes full command, including of the reproductive machinery. In minutes, millions of atoms are moved around and a horde of fully-grown new viruses is ready.

Not long ago, viruses were not even considered biologically alive. In fact, they are complex chemical systems that when dormant look like inert crystals. Some can remain for years, even centuries, as a white powder akin to salt. But shocks, moisture, warmth, or electromagnetism may awake these minuscule parasites and ready them to seek a hosting victim.

Viruses are fascinating Eternon structures, both quiet minerals and smart animals. But they are not alone in packing a large amount of information into a small volume. We know of even tinier structures, such as protobions, microspheres, or viroids. All are links between the primitive replicating clays and the first single-celled organisms. They help us reconstruct the lowest rungs of the ladder that Eternons have built between minerals and us.

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