Evolution of Life From Space: Astrobiology, Viruses, Microbiology, Genetics

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For thousands of years humans have gazed up into the heavens pondering the nature of existence, and asking: How did life begin? Are we alone in the vastness of the cosmos? Are there people on other planets? Did a god create man in the image of god? Or did man create the gods in the image of man? Is there any meaning and purpose to life? Or is it all a cruel cosmic joke?

For thousands of years two major competing schools of thought, one scientific the other based on on the supernatural, have sought to answer questions as to the meaning, purpose and origins of life. The supernatural view holds that the life originated on earth because the Earth had special life generating powers and Earth is the source of all life; and this view is accepted by the majority of scientists and the religious authorities. And is often falsely claimed, as established fact, that all life on Earth randomly evolved from a single organism which was fashioned in an organic stew after the necessary chemicals were randomly mixed together and then energized 3.6 billion to to 4.2 billion years ago. However, the is no hard evidence to support an Earthly abiogenesis and considerable evidence which argues against it.

By contrast, there is considerable evidence from astrobiology, genetics, microbiology, virology, and the fossil record which demonstrates that life has an extraterrestrial origin and that microbes were deposited on this planet early in its history when Earth was bombarded by comets, meteors, and planetary debris containing living bacteria, archae, viruses, and other microbes. Further, those promoting a "cosmic ancestry", such as R. Gabriel Joseph and Chandra Wickramasinghe, have argued that evolution has been shaped by viruses deposited on Earth by comets and meteors. Although Darwin has been elevated to near deity status, the fossil record and genetics is not consistent with his belief that evolution has proceeded by "small steps." Instead evolution takes place by quantum leaps after long periods of stasis. According to Joseph, Prokaryotes have inserted genes into the Eukaryotic genome, and have then labored to biologically alter the biosphere by pumping oxygen, calcium and other substances into the environment which activated those genes donated by Prokaryotes. Joseph has detailed and reviewed a body of evidence which demonstrates that archae, bacteria, and viruses serve as interplanetary genetic messengers, whose genomes have been shaped by interplanetary horizontal gene transfer, and that collectively the vast genetic libraries maintained by viruses and single cells microbes, have provided all the necessary genetic information for the evolution of every creature which has swam, crawled, or slithered across the Earth. Joseph calls his theory "Evolutionary Metamorphosis" and "Evolutionary Embryology."

There is also considerable evidence that bacteria and microbes continue to fall to Earth from space, and in many instances, via horizontal gene transfer, these microbes and viruses insert beneficial genes into the Eukaryotic genome and have shaped the trajectory of evolution leading to humans. However, according to Dr. Joseph and Chandra Wickramasinghe in some instances these same bacteria and viruses are sources of contagion and plague, and for thousands of years it has been believed that plague is associated with comets. Joseph and Wickramasinghe call this phenomenon "Diseases from Space." Disease sometimes occur when there is a slight mismatch between the viral genome and the genome of the host, for when there is a perfect match, the host often benefits, and new species emerge; what Joseph calls "metamorphosis" and the replication of living creatures which long ago evolved on other planets.