From bacteria to humans, all life has ways to recognize themselves and differentiate themselves from similar life forms. The ability to recognize similarity can be called group identity or group membership and also relates to group cooperation. Even viruses have the capacity for group identity and cooperation. However, those viruses that stably colonize bacteria can directly affect the group identity of their host. Starting with this virus-host relationship, this book traces the origin and evolution of group identity. By examining the stable, extrachromosomal viruses of bacteria, a strategy has been defined that is used for both virus persistence and group identity; this is the addiction module of phage P1. Thus, this book examines how genetic parasites and addiction modules have been involved in the origin of toxins/antitoxins modules as systems of group identity and immunity. The origin of sensory systems for light and small molecule (pheromone) detection and production, social motility, and programmed cell death are all examined. From the emergence of worms with brains, to vertebrate fish, to insects and tetrapods, olfaction and pheromones were maintained for group identity purposes and linked to addictive social bonding. In the African primates and humans, however, a great colonization by genetic parasites mostly destroyed this pheromone based system of social identity. This compelled primates to evolve enlarged social brains that used vision to learn group identity. Humans additionally evolved an even larger social brain and also developed a mind able to learned language and beliefs to specify group identity.

"The molecular evolution of viruses is fascinating and quite controversial, relevant to the evolution of living organisms, a determinant in pathogenesis by viruses, and amenable to detailed study in various laboratories around the globe. Evolution is the product of variation and selection. Genetic recombination is a major source of variation for evolutionary selection. Full understanding of virus evolution requires knowledge of the inventory of existing viruses, their distribution in biological space and time and their interactions with other viruses and living organisms.The basic focus of this volume will be to trace the evolution (or accumulation) of biological identity systems from molecules to microbes, through animals to primate and human social structure. Overall, the volume will be organized so that it will trace the evolution of group identification systems from simple unicellular life forms, through the 'tree of life' all the way to complex hominid social structures. Such an evolutionary tracing has not been previously published, thus the book will develop and present a unique organization of information.The focus of this book will also be to understand the mechanisms that allow group (social) identification and communication systems to function. Sensory identification systems, especially receptors, will be emphasized. In unicellular and early multicellular organisms, addiction modules (toxins and antitoxins, often from genetic parasites) are most commonly used as biological group identification systems. Later in evolution, odor receptors, in particular, provide a clear evolutionary trail that can be followed from microbes to humans. Photo and visual receptors are also considered along with the neurological systems that process receptor information. Visual and audio based social imprinting will also be presented.In addition, the book will seek to understand the underlying evolutionary forces that drive the creation of group identification systems. In particular, 'addiction' based molecular strategies will be examined. A unique element of this book will be to evaluate the role of genetic parasites in the origination of such addiction modules. The recent explosion of genomic databases and information will be called on heavily as evidence for this part of the book."

An Overview: Identity from Bacteria to Belief.- The Prokaryotes: Virus, Hyperparasites and the Origin of Group Identity.- Sensory Systems (Light, Odor, Pheromones) in Communities of Oceanic Microbes.- Subjugation of the Individual; Prokaryotic Group Living - Blooms, Slime and Mats.- Animal Group Identity: From Slime to Worms, Emergence of the Brain.- Group Identity in Aquatic Animals: Learning to Belong.- Development of Tetrapod Group Identity, the Smell of Self.- Origin of Primate Group Identity: Vision and the Great ERV Invasion.- Human Group Identity: Language and a Social Mind.