The recent emergence of a form of the Zika virus leading to microencephaly in new-born infants would continue to pose a major Global threat until its ultimate origins are properly understood. We argue that adhering to the obsolete paradigm of closed-box Darwinian evolution is a major obstacle to progress. If the Zika virus escalates unchecked its soma-to-germ line transfer might effectively lead to the emergence of a new human species with a diminished level of cognition.
Clumps of stratospheric material with individual diameters of 10-30 micrometers were isolated in a sterile manner from a height of 41 km. The masses showed no obvious morphology, but stained positive for DNA and are therefore considered to be unequivocally biological. We suggest that the masses are arriving to the stratosphere from space and not upcoming from Earth; evidence is provided to support this view.
Tracking interspecies transmission and long-term evolution of an ancient retrovirus using the genomes of modern mammals. ELife 5: e12704. 7. Villareal LP (2004) Can viruses make us human? Proc Am Phil Soc 148: 296-323.
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