Could a virus have been the first life form on earth?
1 Answer
Nov 14, 2016
No
Explanation:
The simplest reason why not is that by definition a virus is an organism that only reproduces inside other organisms. So it would have no way of reproducing.
A more complex reason is that viruses are relatively sophisticated form of life with a protein coat, thought to have evolved from plasmids or bacteria.
In addition, note that not all definitions consider viruses to be a form of life at all.
