@PodunkPotato @Sui @AmonMaritza @Evil_Bender @RadixVerum @Nudhul @jeffcliff The evolutionary explanation for viruses is similar to bacterial plasmids. I actually think early viruses being escaped genetic code from one lifeform ejected by another and infecting a third would be the most intuitive path. Exosome expression packages them in a neat little box. If they could be packaged by a smaller organism into a simpler box making them not recognized as kill on sight by host three, that's a possible explanation for development. It wouldn't be a virus until host three secretes it and another host picks it up.