Whenever I see a discussion about whether viruses are living things or not, I see that image in my head. They are truly strange entities, utilizing bacteria to reproduce by injecting genetic information into them.
It's difficult for me not to see them as lifeforms. But, they are strange lifeforms. It is those T4 viruses that make the argument for them being living things.
There are bacteriophages specific to many disease causing bacterial species. Research into using them as an alternative to antibiotics has been going on in Russia for some time, and may end up being a way to fight bacterial resistance to antibiotics down the road.
Other viruses work differently to attack cells, of course, but the concept is similar. It is, however, the structure of the T4-type viruses that is so fascinating. They are ideally adapted for their only function, which seems to be to reproduce, utilizing the systems in bacteria.
Clearly, viruses evolve, as constant changes in the influenza viruses demonstrate.
The puzzle is how they came to exist in the first place. When did the first viruses appear and how? I think there is a key to the entire evolutionary process in the appearance of viruses in the story of life on this planet.
I made a joke about them being space aliens, but it's entirely possible that the first viruses arrived here on some sort of asteroid, very early on. I'm sure there are people investigating viral origins. I need to go look for some more information.
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