The SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 is a member of the coronavirus family. If we were to describe the clan we might call it wily, although of course it does not have personality. We wrote about a version that broke out 20,000 years ago yesterday. When we dug around we discovered the coronavirus is more ancient than us humans.
The Origins of Coronavirus Are More Ancient Than Us
The coronavirus may have emerged from the primeval swamp 55 million years ago. This implies it could have co-evolved alongside the ancestors of birds and bats. This could be the reason why those warm-blooded, flying vertebrates are a natural reservoir for the coronavirus gene pool. Certainly, their flying range could explain why coronaviruses are so numerous and widespread.
The first version of the virus to evolve as we know it emerged around 5,000 years ago. This suggests the modern coronavirus is not more ancient than us, and evolved alongside modern humans. This may help explain why it is so adept at finding ways through our defenses. Many versions that reach us still begin their journey in bats.
Coronavirus Identification and Typing in Past 100 Years
Technology enabling chemical identification of a particular virus is quite recent. However, we do know American domesticated chickens had a respiratory plague in the 1920’s, that left them gasping for air. Research through to the 1950’s identified the virus, although they did not yet understand there were different strains.
Scientists discovered, and isolated the first coronavirus causing human respiratory illness in the 1960s. They also described its characteristic spiky exterior. The first official diagnosis was a human common cold virus. Identification of SARS, HCoV, and MERS strains only followed this century.
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Preview Image: 1981 Electron Image of Coronavirus
