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HIV corrupts healthy cells and uses them to create copies of HIV. HIV by itself does not replicate itself. I see your point that an RNA based lifeform not only can exist, but does. However I think HIV is not a good example to back the scientist's assertion that RNA based lifeforms were probably the initial stage of evolution. It may have happened exactly that way, my message wasnt to say he is wrong. It was to point out that he used as evidence of that theory his own belief in it. That ammounts to zero value, IMHO. In truth, you did a better job of supporting that theory by pointing out an existing lifeform which meets at least some of the criteria the gentlemen was asserting were in existence at the dawn of time. But even that one is not a perfect analogue.

Thanks for your reply. But all living organisms destroy other organisms for their resources. We do it too. Until we re-engineer ourselves, I think we're stuck with it.