According to the British "Daily Mail" report, viruses are almost everywhere on the earth. They are the most common creatures on the earth and are considered to play a very important role in the evolution of life. Scientists now believe that they may also be the key to finding extraterrestrial life. In a new study, researchers found that space flight efforts should take into account the possibility of viruses thriving in other places outside the earth, from the hidden oceans of Europa and Enceladus to ancient sediments on Mars.
Ken Stedman, a biology professor at Portland State University, said, "More than a century has passed since the first viruses were discovered. Virology is entering the second century, and we can finally start to pay attention to other planets outside the earth. " On the earth, the number of viruses is 10 to 100 times that of other cell organisms. Experts say that considering the richness of viruses and their great role in evolution, viruses may be important life markers on other planets and satellites.
The researchers explained: "It can be said that since the initial birth of life, viruses have existed with cell life forms, and may even directly participate in the birth process of life and have a profound impact on cell evolution. The virus is the only entity on the modern earth that uses single-stranded and double-stranded RNA or DNA to provide a model for the RNA- protein world. "
Researchers believe that viruses may flourish outside the earth, from the hidden oceans of Europa and Enceladus to ancient sediments on Mars. So far, there is still a lot to know about the possibility of viruses in space. Steedman said: "We hope that through this paper, we can integrate virus research into astrobiology, and point out the detection of virus biological characteristics and whether the virus can spread in aliens."
Although the idea of an alien virus sounds worrying, researchers insist that it may not have any serious consequences. Steedman said: "This virus has a bad reputation. If we find viruses on other planets, it may be a sign of life, not something terrible. " ?