LLJKSiLk
New Member
To start off, I'm coming at this from the point of view of an Atheist who is the product of a substandard scientific education in the Bible Belt of the United States. Much of what I've learned scientifically has been through my own reading and learning and this is something I'm curious about hearing perspectives on.
As a given, what I've learned is that many (most?) scientists do not consider viruses as being alive because they do not have the capability to reproduce without the aid of a host cell and don't typically use the cell-division method of replication.
However, viruses must in my understanding have come about and survive/thrive based on the same principles of Darwinian evolution and natural selection. If they weren't viable they wouldn't continue, and I would assume that they evolve based on the changing environments they must survive/thrive in. Is this the case?
As they don't replicate in the same sense that normal cells would, how would the first instance of a virus come about?
Do viruses mutate rapidly? As in they must at some point cross a species barrier? By my understanding, not all viruses that affect one species would affect another.
These are a few questions to open the discussion. I'm thankful in advance for any replies or pointing me to sources of information to learn more.
As a given, what I've learned is that many (most?) scientists do not consider viruses as being alive because they do not have the capability to reproduce without the aid of a host cell and don't typically use the cell-division method of replication.
However, viruses must in my understanding have come about and survive/thrive based on the same principles of Darwinian evolution and natural selection. If they weren't viable they wouldn't continue, and I would assume that they evolve based on the changing environments they must survive/thrive in. Is this the case?
As they don't replicate in the same sense that normal cells would, how would the first instance of a virus come about?
Do viruses mutate rapidly? As in they must at some point cross a species barrier? By my understanding, not all viruses that affect one species would affect another.
These are a few questions to open the discussion. I'm thankful in advance for any replies or pointing me to sources of information to learn more.