From: kelso_j@cs.uwa.oz.au (J Kyle Kelso)
Subject: Something Nasty in the Human Genome
Organization: Dept. Computer Science, University of Western Australia.
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 08:35:33 GMT

    I'm not sure if this group is the place for it, but I've been kicking
around an idea for a weird kind of life form.  I'd appreciate comment,
especially from biologists/genetisists type people.  I'd especially like
to hear where else it occurs in SF literature.

    The idea is this: all life forms in the galaxy have their genetic code
"infected" by a kind of genetic parasite.  It's life cycle goes like:

(1) final stage parasites roam the galaxy looking for nice life-baring
planets.  When they find one they land and pick a (or several) promising
looking life forms.  They take apart the genome of the species, inserting
their own in an encoded form throughout the hosts genome, and adding
special "activator" areas to the genome.  They then exterminate all non-
infected members of the species (using biological warfare - if they can
take genomes apart then extermination must be pretty trivial), and destroy
themselves without trace (maybe flying into the sun or something).

(2) mutations eventually trigger one of the "activator" areas on the a hosts
genome, which stimulates production of several viruses.  These viruses
cause the parasite's genome to express itself, turning the host into a
parasite.  The virus spreads to all members of the host species.  If
the host species has produced a technologically advance culture they
use the technological and industrial base to spread themselves around
further.  If not they repeat (1).

It doesn't really matter if the mutations occur late unless they look 
really closely at their own (the host, that is)
genome, and even then the parasites genome could be encrypted so that
the host may never know until it's too late.  The bigger the population
and the dirtier (in terms of carcinogens/mutagens) the higher the chance
of the vital mutation happening.  Now if the parasites are dilligent about
propagating themselves, and select all the likely candidates for intelligence,
they should be able to keep the galaxy free of intelligent life forms (at
least keep their life-spans down to a few thousand years).  But just in
case a life form evolves that was not infected, for every host species
succsessfully "harvested", a few special parasites are produced: these
are highly intelligent, capable of reproducing themselves (slowley) and
just sit around in inconspicuous places looking for rogue species.
If they find any they genetically engineer themselves an army and try to
wipe it out (the rogue species, not the army).

There.  I didn't think of it at first, but it plays the periodic
extinction game as well as the failure of CETI to find anything.  I'm
kicking around some story ideas so any comments would be appreciated.


J Kyle Kelso 
email: kelso_j@kultarr.cs.uwa.edu.au
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I've come a long way I've come a long way
and never even left L.A." - Michelle Shocked
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