The interaction of energy particles–in terms of quantum mechanics–opens a perspective of energy that is flowing in all directions, attracting and repealing forces that form a source for form and shape. And the photon is beautifully positioned in carrying out the miracle of life. My theoretical position is that life is an intrinsic part of the universe. Life is not only here on the planet Earth, but everywhere in the universe. But, if we assume that position, our definition of life is altered in a radical way for all forms of energy and substances have life. We are confronted with an unimaginable universe teeming with life. If we think of this universe of particles that are undetected on the microscopic level, beyond the electron microscope–now on the level of the Hadron Collider–splitting atoms–we begin to see a world of subatomic particles essential to life. In fact, the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle was given the moniker by the news media as the “god particle”.
If we extrapolate this paradigm of subatomic particles to the subatomic particles of biological life we can begin to understand the level of interaction and relationships that form the foundation of biological life. We do not have the individual particle (or cell) alone replicating itself as an exact copy–guaranteeing its lineage and paternity of such “X” cell alga. We realize that many sub-particles interact to give life and this dynamic relationship of sharing material and information (nucleic acids) gives rise to a population called virus: a quasi-species as defined by Manfred Eigen in 1970 to model the evolution of the first macro-molecules on earth as an essential step in the origin of life. Applying this concept, especially to RNA virus, Domingo and Perales state that “Virologists now understand that virus populations are not of a single member with a defined nucleic acid sequence. Rather they are dynamic distributions of non-identical but related members called a quasi-species. The consequence of a quasi-species is that most viral populations are initiated not by a single viron, but by a population of particles” (Domingo. E, Perales C., A The Quasi-species Concept, Virology, W.S, 11 May 2009, p. 54).
An important relationship is between the host population and the virus population because it facilitates the rapid incorporation of the host’s glycans, proteins, lipids, and genetic material regarding nucleotide sequences. This is the the establishment of an ecological relationship. Virus modifies the host population and biodiversity–and the virus continually changes due to this rapid mutation. This is one of the most dynamic biological relationships that we need to understand. It is one of the foundations of life itself.
It is ironic to think that this part of our world has been neglected by scientific inquiry until the 1970s. Even today’s research on the theoretical level is low compared to research aimed at clinical control and germ warfare. Indeed much of the delay into this realm of knowledge is culture bound. It transgresses the order of the natural world according to religious orientations, scientific traditions, academic censorship, political support of scientific institutions, and an overall world view of mechanistic reductionism.
If we start to open a new perspective on life–we can appreciate the evolutionary role virus, and their subvirus entities, have played in the continuing life forms on planet Earth. But, we also need to understand that the virus is also alerting us about our need to–awareness of–motivation to change–conscious reaction to the destruction of our world, as we know it. We have altered the planet to such an extent–that it is now under threat of extinction. But as the pandemic begins, we do not hear the word “extinction”. The world is at a standstill. We all need to discuss this matter.
Suppositions:
The Malthusian pressure on the world is creating starvation, disease, war and poverty.
The extinction rate is the highest among vertebrates, humans among them.
The destruction and pollution of the natural environment causes global warming which is altering ecological homeostasis.
The SARS-CoV-2 is responding, as part of the dynamic relationships that life has with virus, to change populations and biodiversity as a result of changing ecological relationships.
John Marcucci
April 25, 2020
Dallas, Texas