[EvaH (OP)]

Andrew asks:

How does a virus first get established? Is it a chance coming together of codons which just happen to produce all the requisits for a successful virus’ operation?

What do you think?

[evan_au]

How does a virus first get established?

By "first", I assume you mean "before there were any living cells to parasitize (since viruses can't reproduce on their own)"?

The origin of life is one of the great mysteries of evolutionary biology.
- Some people think that viruses are a remnant of an earlier period of life before today's DNA-based bacteria appeared.
- Life-like processes may have appeared using RNA to convey genetic information and catalyse reactions.
- Once bacteria appeared, the viruses found a good source of food in these new bacteria.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis#RNA_world