Posted on 12/29/2021 5:57:37 AM PST by Red Badger
A summary of decades of research on a rather 'out-there' idea involving viruses from space raises questions on just how scientific we can be when it comes to speculating on the history of life on Earth.
It's easy to throw around words like crackpot, rogue, and maverick in describing the scientific fringe, but then papers like this one, from 2018, come along and leave us blinking owlishly, unsure of where to even begin.
A total of 33 names were listed as authors on this review, which was published by Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology back in August 2018. The journal is peer reviewed and fairly well cited. So it's not exactly small, or a niche pay-for-publish source.
Science writer Stephen Fleischfresser goes into depth on the background of two of the better known scientists involved: Edward Steele and Chandra Wickramasinghe. It's well worth a read.
For a tl;dr version, Steele is an immunologist who has a fringe reputation for his views on evolution that relies on acquiring gene changes determined by the influence of the environment rather than random mutations, in what he calls meta-Lamarckism.
Wickramasinghe, on the other hand, has had a somewhat less controversial career, recognized for empirically confirming Sir Fred Hoyle's hypothesis describing the production of complex carbon molecules on interstellar dust.
Wickramasinghe and Hoyle also happened to be responsible for another space biology thesis. Only this one is based on more than just the origins of organic chemistry.
The Hoyle Wickramasinghe (H-W) thesis of Cometary (Cosmic) Biology makes the rather simple claim that the direction of evolution has been significantly affected by biochemistry that didn't start on our planet.
In Wickramasinghe's own words, "Comets are the carriers and distributors of life in the cosmos, and life on Earth arose and developed as a result of cometary inputs."
Those inputs, Wickramasinghe argued, aren't limited to a generous sprinkling of space-baked amino acids, either.
Rather, they include viruses that insert themselves into organisms, pushing their evolution into whole new directions.
The report, titled "Cause of Cambrian Explosion – Terrestrial or Cosmic?", pulls on existing research to conclude that a rain of extra-terrestrial retroviruses played a key role in the diversification of life in our oceans roughly half a billion years ago.
"Thus retroviruses and other viruses hypothesized to be liberated in cometary debris trails both can potentially add new DNA sequences to terrestrial genomes and drive further mutagenic change within somatic and germline genomes," the authors wrote.
Let that sink in for a moment. And take a deep breath before continuing, because that was the tame part.
It was during this period that a group of mollusks known as cephalopods first stretched out their tentacles from beneath their shells, branching into a stunning array of sizes and shapes in what seemed like a remarkably short time frame.
The genetics of these organisms, which today include octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish, are as weird as the animals themselves, due in part to their ability to edit their DNA on the fly.
The authors of the paper make the rather audacious claim that these genetic oddities might be a sign of life from space.
Not of space viruses this time, but the arrival of whole genomes frozen in stasis before thawing out in our tepid waters.
"Thus the possibility that cryopreserved squid and/or octopus eggs, arrived in icy bolides several hundred million years ago should not be discounted," they wrote.
In his review of the paper, medical researcher Keith Baverstock from the University of Eastern Finland conceded that there's a lot of evidence that plausibly aligns with the H-W thesis, such as the curious timeline of the appearance of viruses.
But that's just not how science advances.
"I believe this paper justifies skepticism of the scientific value of stand alone theories of the origin of life," Baverstock argued at the time.
"The weight of plausible, but non-definitive, evidence, great though that might be, is not the point."
While the idea is as novel and exciting as it is provocative, nothing in the summary helps us better understand the history of life on Earth any better than existing conjectures, adding little of value to our model of evolution.
Still, with solid caveats in place, maybe science can cope with a generous dose of crazy every now and then.
Journal editor Denis Noble concedes that 'further research is needed', which is a bit of an understatement.
But given the developments regarding space-based organic chemistry in recent years, there's room for discussion.
"As space chemistry and biology grows in importance it is appropriate for a journal devoted to the interface between physics and biology to encourage the debates," said Noble.
"In the future, the ideas will surely become testable."
Just in case those tests confirm speculations, we recommend being well prepared for the return of our cephalopod overlords. Who knows when they'll want those eggs back?
This research was published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
A version of this article was first published in August 2018.
I hope you didn’t hurt yourself!
LOL! Nope!
Good. I’m cautious about pouncing, what with my foot. I was walking at 2.5 mph this morning so I didn’t do it any harm, but I’m looking forward to having my bathing suit.
My bathing suit was successfully returned! As soon as I’m informed that they have it, I’ll order another that fits!
I hope it takes only one more try! I don’t know how mine will work out, but I ordered a larger size than I thought I really, really needed.
My mistake was in not ordering a two-piece. I should have known better!
I found one I like but I wanted to wait since I opted for store credit rather than a refund. It’s easier that way.
And I think I’m off to bed. It was an emotional day and I’m beginning to feel it, so I’ll say “good night,” for now!
Jake would ruin your sleep if he could! I just finished Today’s Special Animal Friend for tomorrow (the American kestrel), and I’m going to change clothes. DP has gone to get James from youth group. Vlad didn’t want to go, what with all the food for his birthday.
In theory, James can drive them to youth group next Sunday!
I have other things to keep me awake, so Jake would be a diversion!
Please be sure to post Today’s Special Animal Friend!
Now I have to get dressed and sort the laundry. Unngh.
Today’s special animal friend is the American kestrel, Falco sparverius. Although the American kestrel occupies an ecological niche similar to that of European kestrels, genetic analysis suggests that it is more closely related to larger North American falcons such the peregrine and prairie falcons. The taxonomy could be recalibrated, or not.
The American kestrel has a wide range in North America, the Caribbean, and South America, basically all over the Americas except the Amazon Basin. There are 17 subspecies. Those in the United States and Canada are generally larger than those living further south. Females are larger than males, and the female of a northern subspecies is about twice the size of a male of a southern subspecies. They are a bit bigger than a robin, with a length (female) up to 12 inches and wingspans (female) up 24 inches.
They have very pretty plumage, with reddish and blue or blue-gray feathers on the head, reddish backs, and black-dotted white undersides. Males also have blue or gray on the wings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTuOZAKc_xE
Kestrels eat a variety of insects and arachnids as well as small mammals, smaller birds, and some reptiles and amphibians. This diet allows them to flourish in habitats from alpine forests to deserts to farmland to suburbs. Kestrels are often seen perched on posts and trees, watching for prey. They can also hover before diving upon a bug or other small animal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z67oh7ev008
American kestrels are cavity nesters. Males establish a breeding territory and perform flight displays while shrieking. They also deliver food to interested females. The female chooses the nest site from the options available in the male’s territory. Four or five eggs are laid. Incubation is about a month, and fledging takes about another month. A pair in a warm climate may produce two clutches in a season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIG6L4LCe3o
American kestrels are a species of Least Concern according to IUCN. However, they are protected by many U.S. states and in some foreign countries. The Cornell Lab estimates a 50% population loss over the last 45 years or so. Habitat loss due to development is the main threat. This disrupts nesting, feeding, and migration patterns. Pesticides are also a threat, both because they reduce the available insect prey and because of contamination.
American kestrels feature in falconry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YWJR_j1TCw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfJrnX9irXM
Just. WOW.
Thanks!
Dese my sharp pointy fings. Dey make me RAWR!!
Good morning. I hope you slept well.
Done with the washing part of the laundry, and I think I’m going to make the bed and take a nap before I do the hanging part of the laundry.
I’m not feeling all that great this morning.
You had a lot of effort this weekend. A nap is entirely justified!
I had some time with Jake, but otherwise okay.
Good morning. Happy Monday!
I think I’m officially done with being so cold. Not that the forecast cares one whit.
M-i-L began her second week in the hospital. She keeps saying she wants to come home. Her husband certainly wants her home. I don’t think either of them knows how hard it will be for several weeks while her hip heals. And that’s only enough to know if she will need surgery. Hopefully she’ll get a rehab center soon.
Wordle 226 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I seem to have a habit of guessing the wrong word first.
Happy Monday morning.
No, I think you’re right in that neither of them knows how difficult it will be until her hip is healed. She should enjoy this time of forced doing nothing because if she goes home too soon, it could be worse for both of them.
Yes, the first Wordle guess is usually no guessed letters. Yesterday, I had two right, but never did find the other three, so it was another wash for me. Tough game. At least for me.
Back from the nap. Now I have to get busy with the hanging part of the laundry, and then I can let the nausea take over.
What fun.
I meant to say that once I get some information and I have a guess but there could be other options, I pick the wrong one.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one who guesses wrong! LOL!
Kindred spirits!
Wellnow. My day is just getting better and better.
I got the meat and vegetables into the crockpot and turned it on high so I could turn it down about an hour later. Two hours later, I come back to find that I hadn’t even plugged it in.
I want my mommy.
Oops. Maybe another nap. I guess I should go to the library and also text the other Webelos leader to see what we’re doing tonight.
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