viruses and the extinction of dinosaurs

[Ed Rybicki]

> To:            virology at net.bio.net
> From:          farrlarr at cwis.isu.edu (FARRELL_LARRY)
> Subject:       Re: viruses and the extinction of dinosaurs

> peter rittscher <prittsch at direct.ca> wrote:
> > I have definite proof that at the time of the extinction of dinosaurs the 
> >first virises were emerging is this a mere coincedence or what hey??

> Post your proof, or a citation to the refereed journal where your proof 
> is detailed.  I believe that it would be *extremely* difficult to prove 
> that viruses (please note the proper spelling of the entities you 
> claim to have investigated) existed at the time of the dinosaurs, and 
> even more difficult to prove that they were emerging at the time of the 
> extinction of dinosaurs, but I am willing to be convinced as long as you 
> provide proof beyond unsubstantiated statements like the above.

...and I have indirect evidence that geminiviruses at least were 
around at the time of the dinosaur's extinction - and that the 
distribution of some of them is directly linked to continental drift 
- but so what?  Means they were probably around before that, and so?  
Viruses have almost certainly been around as long as other organisms 
have, and have probably always played a role in their ecology.  I 
don't think dino flu totalled the big chaps, some how...too 
phylogenetically different, for one thing.