Cosmic ancestry
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Cosmic ancestry is a theory of the origin of life on Earth, proposed by Brig Klyce, which incorporates strong panspermia, the Gaia hypothesis and the premise that life has always existed. The theory holds that life is neither the product of supernatural creation, nor is it spontaneously generated through abiogenesis, but that it has always existed in the universe.
Cosmic Ancestry is currently the most actively debated and researched version of panspermia. According to the theory, higher life forms, including intelligent life, descend only from pre-existing life which was no less advanced than the descendants. The genetic programs for the evolution of such higher forms may be delivered to biospheres, such as the Earth's, within viruses or bacteria in the same manner as proposed by other versions of panspermia. The programs may then be installed by known gene transfer mechanisms. Also, according to cosmic ancestry, life initiates Gaian processes that may environmentally create and alter biospheres.
The primary justification for the theory is not direct supporting evidence, although a small but growing body of such evidence exists. Rather it is the lack of direct evidence that any natural process can (1) cause life to originate from nonliving matter, or (2) compose genetic programs for new evolutionary features. (Evidence for speciation, adaptation, variation, and optimization within narrow ranges via natural selection is not disputed.)
Cosmic ancestry is a modern scientific alternative to both neo-Darwinism and Intelligent Design theories. Whilst it is a biological theory, its implications would require a major amendment to the standard Big Bang theory of cosmology because of its requirement for an ageless universe.
