The Role of Viruses and Viral Infections in the Theory of Panspermia

Abstract

Panspermia is an ancient idea that supports the existence of life throughout the Universe. Panspermia proposes that life that can survive the effects of space get distributed in all habitable and non-habitable planets by meteoroids, asteroids and planetoids across the Universe. Extremophilic microorganisms known to survive and thrive in extreme conditions on earth also pose a possibility of existing in other parts of universe delivered by comets or asteroids. Viruses, being simple organisms, are also capable of such survival and journeys across space. Viruses are known to be mobile genetic elements and install new genes into their host cells supporting the evolutionary mechanism. This article illustrates the role of viruses and viral infections in the theory of panspermia by examples of horizontal gene transfer, influenza virus and SARS.