CHAPTER TWO: CELL

 2.1 billion years after the beginning of time, primitive life first inhabited the new universe. Years of evolution, random arrangement and selection brought forth two distinct forms of life, viruses and cyanobacteria, from a single, formless mass of atoms. Viruses and cyanobacteria would thrive on planets, each unaware of the other’s existence; they would stay in perfect harmony. As the years progressed, viruses and cyanobacteria would adapt to environmental changes. Those that could not adapt, would die out, leaving behind the best of their kind to pass down their genes to another generation. At this point in time, the new universe was relatively young and quiet. These primitive beings were only the start to the integration of life within planets. They were the precursors, countless other kingdoms were to evolve from their genes, hence, countless mutations and the random arrangement of genes to bring forth new life had to occur. 

      For the viruses, a perfect viral coat was essential to ensure survival. It prevents mechanical damage and ensures that the viral genetic material stored within the virus itself, stays intact and protected from environmental stimuli. However, one species of virus, the nucleo-viruses, were different. These viruses had pores on their viral coat, thereby making their genetic material accessible to outside stimuli. On the evolutionary ladder, the nucleo-viruses were at the bottom; their population was very low, almost at the verge of extinction. While other species of viruses thrived and continued to evolve, the nucleo-viruses were at the brim of species deletion. Their numbers were reducing rapidly, they were not able to endure the harsh cold climate, the constant Ultraviolet radiation from the proximal star and the physiological pressure of their environment. It was the end of the nucleo-viruses; those that do not adapt, will get left behind to die.

      7000 years later, only a single individual of the nucleo-viruses had remained. Destined to inhabit the world, alone, the last of its own kind. One day, the virus had a chance encounter with an individual cyanobacteria. The cyanobacteria was much less advanced than the nucleo-virus, but was much larger in size compared to it. Its genetic material was not properly encased within its structure, it merely floated around within its cytoplasm. The nucleo-virus was intrigued by its flawed design, how could such a primitive organism survive this long? It has no outer coat, it is as fragile on the outside as it is on the inside; it had no protection whatsoever. Yet, their population kept growing exponentially. As some died, more would emerge, ensuring continuity of their species. 

    “How have you achieved this?” the nucleo-virus asked,

    “How have you survived this long?”

    “Well that’s easy… we exist as an individual collective.” The cyanobacteria took turns replying.

    “What does that mean?”

    “I am me, and I am them, I am everyone, and everyone is everyone. We are all copies of one single organism.”

    “You see, we have evolved to reproduce from one single mass. That is, two cyanobacteria will arise from one cyanobacteria. Binary fission, we split into two individual masses. While each of the two will exist entirely on its own, the genetic composition is the same for both of them, and that’s how we pass on our genes.

     “Binary fission, is how you maintain such a large population?” The nucleo-virus asked, confused and hungry for knowledge.

     “Yes, but we achieved that 2000 or 3000 years ago, once our ancestors evolved and developed the genes that would induce binary fission, our population has never stopped growing.”

     “Amazing! But how were you able to integrate those genes into your own genetic material?”

     “Well that’s quite simple… we take them from the environment.”

     “How does one do that?”

     “Our structures are well adapted to ensure that we have access to our environment. We allow substances such as ions to move into our structures while removing excess or unwanted by products.”

     “What are these ‘ions’ that you speak of?”

     “They are like building blocks, so to say, we use them for several of our internal processes such as breaking down raw material into energy and to ensure osmotic balance while maintaining our physiological integrity.”

     “So you’re basically self-contained.”

     “We like to think of it as self-sufficient.”

     “That might be true, but you lack something else that I think will be of most importance to your species, later on in time.”

     “What might that be?”

     “Protection.”

     “Who needs protection while you can basically live forever as a different collective individual?”

     “What if something happens and a large part of your population is wiped out?”

     “More binary fission.”

     “Is that going to be your answer for everything?”

     “Not unless you think you have a better one.”

     “Actually, I do.”

     “Let’s hear it then.”

     “You see, I am the last member of my species, the nucleo-viruses. Our viral coat is unique, different from the rest of the viruses. We evolved differently, our viral coat is porous but for the rest, is fully impermeable. Hence, we are more vulnerable to our environment, it is a harsh world and my kind has paid dearly for the route our evolutionary wagon took. I am the last surviving member, and if I die, the nucleo-viruses will be the first of many other species of life to succumb to the pressure of the universe.”

     “I don’t see how any of this is our concern.”

     “Your genetic material storage system is flawed. It would only take a half a billion years before your entire species is wiped out due to environmental genetic degradation. You’ll be at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder, just as we were, I’m the only one left now.”

The cyanobacteria were silent, they collected into a colony discussing all that the nucleo-virus had said. They were concerned for the continuity of their species, concerned that in a matter of years, they might not be any of them left to carry on their legacy.

    “Okay virus, we acknowledge the concerns that you have raised. What do you suppose we do?”

    “I can provide storage for your genetic material. Arrange it into groups of genes, modify some genes while inducing mutations to delete genes that are of no use to you while adding some to enhance your structure. It is too fragile.”

    “Which genes will you add in?”

    “You need protection from the outside, too much mechanical or physiological pressure and damage will ultimately lead to the development of weak genes, those are then passed on to progeny. It will be a barrier of sorts, it will provide a distinction, ensuring that you only have access to the ions that you need, while allowing for waste materials to be removed as well. All that and also to maintain the integrity of your internal structure.”

     “How are you able to do all that?” The cyanobacteria asked, they were all perplexed by the virus’ ideas, they sounded risky and impossible to carry out.

    “The basic unit of a virus ensures that genetic material is preserved, we are able to adapt to changes, and as we adapt, our genes adapt as well giving us the necessary advantages we need to keep going. It is what we were created to do, I’m sure I will be able to do it for you. But I will need something in return from you.”

    “State your price.”

    “I can arrange your genetic material, but I will have to do it from the inside.”

     “You mean…”

     “Yes, we need to integrate. It is the only way I will be able to get access to all those genes that your kind has collected over all those years of evolution, ensuring that you never lose any information. I will be able to add, delete and integrate your genes, giving your species the best chances of survival.”

     “Will you be able to integrate into all of us? This entire population must be able to gain all these advantages that you speak of.”

     “Unfortunately, I can only infect one individual. But, that one individual will give rise to many more cyanobacteria, and they will all have a unit for storing their genetic material. Your progeny will be at the top of the evolutionary ladder. Believe me, you will be great.”

    “What about the rest of the population? What will become of them and their inferior genes?”

    “Let them serve as a ‘control’, as the years go by and environmental pressures catch up to them, your progeny will look back at this day, when a nucleo-virus saved them. They will look at their primitive ancestors as they die out, while their population continues to boom. May the rest of you serve as a reminder that the universe will catch up with anyone who falls behind on its path to glory. Integrate with me and I will lead you to glory.”

      The individual cyanobacteria fell back into its colony. There was a lot of chatting and discussion. How could a member of a fallen species intrude on them and tell them that they were inferior? As much as they would want to believe in their own, to believe that they would survive on their own, the nucleo-virus had provided them with a chance to ensure that they would never have to face mass extinction, putting their faith in history rather than a promise of a foreseeable future. They were convinced that the nucleo-virus only had good intentions and for this reason only, they put their trust in it.

    “We have decided, as a collective individual, to take you up on your offer.”

    “You shall not be disappointed.”

     “We sure hope so.”

    “Today marks the day to which virus and bacteria merge to become one singular unit. From our union, several other forms of life will emerge, one generation better than the one that came before it. We shall combine our genes and make better ones, those that are more suitable for our environment. We shall outlive our precursors, all those that came before us and all those that live with us in the present, will celebrate us for what we have achieved. This moment right now, shall never be forgotten, in the history of life. When a virus and bacteria became one single unit, the basic unit of life.”

Thus, the nucleo-virus and the individual cyanobacteria merged, giving rise to the cell. The nucleo- virus maintained a central position within the cyanobacteria. It sent out signals within the cytoplasm to gather all the genes into its core. The nucleo-virus worked tirelessly, organizing and arranging these genes, making modifications and editing each gene to ensure that they were optimal. The cyanobacteria entered into a deep state of rest, all of its metabolic processes stopped, allowing the nucleo-virus to continue editing its genes. 

   

      5 million years went by and the cyanobacteria arose from rest; the nucleo-virus had completed its work and was now fully integrated into the cyanobacterium. It became a full mass of genetic material, allowing for communication with the other structures found within the cytoplasm, it controlled the cyanobacterium’s mobility, adaptive functions and all metabolic functions; it became the nucleus of the cell. However, the species population of cyanobacteria had been almost entirely wiped out by the time the process of integration was complete. There were only a few colonies remaining, but their genes were weak and their numbers were decreasing rapidly, just as the nucleo-virus had predicted. It was a sad sight to behold, the cyanobacteria was witnessing the mass extinction of its species just as the nucleo-virus had all those years ago. They had barely evolved since the integration started, time was inevitably catching up to them. The newly evolved cyanobacterium would now take up the mantle, as the precursor of life that is yet to be. As promised, the nucleo-virus had developed a physiological barrier between the cyanobacterium and the environment, a double layered barrier, composed of a cell wall and a cell membrane. This barrier fortified the structure of the cell while also ensuring that osmotic pressure is kept in check. Several of the cyanobacterium’s internal structures were also improved such as the mitochondria which carried out respiration to provide energy for the cell, the chloroplasts which would trap light and convert it into food in the presence of other organic materials and the secretory vesicles which would ensure that waste products from the cell were properly removed into the surrounding environment. 

  

     The cell was now ready for its induction into the world, binary fission allowed the cell to split and form several colonies of cells. In a number of years, these cells would again evolve independently, giving rise to several other forms of life, some unicellular such as protozoa and other bacteria, while others grouped together to form multicellular organisms, such as plants and fungi. The remaining populations of cyanobacteria continued to thrive, producing the necessary oxygen that was required to sustain higher life, while taking up Carbon dioxide. It was the cycle of life, cells continued to give rise to new cells, while some mutated and evolved to carry out different functions within an organism. Some cells grouped up to perform one singular function through differentiation, giving rise to cell organs. It was the dawn of a new era, life was taking over and evolution was the path that had to be followed. For years and years, life continued to evolve, taking different forms as each generation passed on to the next, each organism, containing more and more genes, each put in place to enhance survival. DNAs and RNAs evolved again, more stable and highly equipped to ensure that genetic material was preserved, to be passed to progeny. 1.5 billion years later, DNA and RNA modifications would kick start the longest and most complex process known to the universe; the process of evolution. It is through this process that the greatest form of life and most advanced form of life, the Homo sapiens, would be brought into existence