Scientists find Megavirus

[popeyespappy]

On the subject of pathogens I wonder if viruses were responsible for evolution?

Viruses have undoubtedly played some role in the history evolution. Noted biologist Lynn Margulis (use to be Carl Sagan’s wife), the mother of endosymbiotic theory, has shown us that horizontal gene transfer was a big part of evolution. It is hard to imagine that viruses have not played an important role in our evolution considering that about 10% of human DNA consists of viral insertions. Margulis is on record as saying she believes horizontal transfer is probably at least as important to evolution as natural selection. That’s a controversial position, but so was her stance on endosymbiotic theory when she first published on it in the 60’s.