Dr. Mónica Enriquez’ journal: Entry 1
January 03, 20XX

The first concrete evidence of life beyond our galaxy was discovered over 25 years ago. For the first time in history, scientists landed a probe on a meteoroid transiting near the orbit of Jupiter, one believed to have originated in the Andromeda’s Galaxy. The samples collected included biological material that, against all odds, started reproducing once it was retrieved and placed in more favorable conditions.

Of the myriad questions formed by these groundbreaking discoveries, these interest me the most: Is this organism’s entire tree of life equipped to withstand the brutal conditions of outer space? Or is it an outlier, like tardigrades in our evolutionary ecosystem? Most importantly, what can we learn from this organism that can help humans to have healthier, more fulfilling lives? In the past several years I’ve been closely following Dr. Vilar’s work with the living sample, which she named Tamoan. It’s as impressive as one might expect from an actual living alien creature.

Vilar quickly discovered that when the specimen is exposed to other living creatures, it temporarily parasitizes the foreign subject. The two exchange DNA and ultimately the.Tamoan and the temporary host evolve (for lack of a better term). Not only that, as Vilar exposed the Tamoan to increasingly large biological subjects it continued to grow in both size and complexity. Its adaptability is utterly amazing. Equally impressive is the fact that the DNA implanted in its new hosts includes not only original Tamoan DNA, but traces of genes from previously parasitized species.

After five years of constant experimentation, the Tamoan has reached the size of a medium sized dog and– oh shit. I have to go, I’m giving a lecture in ten minutes.

NOTE: Monica is brilliant, but organization and time management are not her fortes. The next entry relevant to CC was written roughly 3 weeks later.

- Zane