Virolution ─ Viruses' Astonishing Role in the Evolution of Life on Earth

Combining Darwin, the double helix, the genome project, and viruses to explain the last great mystery of evolution, this book?is the product of Frank Ryan's decade of research at the frontiers of?a new science called viral symbiosis, and the amazing revolution that it has had in these few years. Still the greatest breakthrough in biological science, Darwin's theory of evolution depended on steady variation of living things over time?but he was unable to explain how this variation occurred. Since publication of the Origin of Species, we have discovered three main sources for this variation?mutation, hybridization, and epigenetics. Then on February 12, 2001, the evidence for perhaps the most extraordinary cause of variation was simultaneously released by two organizations?the code for the entire human genome. Not only was the human genome unbelievably simple (only?10 times more complicated than a bacteria), but embedded in the code were large fragments that were derived from viruses?fragments that were vital to evolution of all organisms, and the evidence for a fourth and vital source of variation?viruses. As scientists begin to look for evidence of viral involvement in more and more processes, they have discovered that they are vital in nearly every case?and with this understanding comes the possibility of manipulating the role of the viruses to help fight a huge range of diseases.