Giant Virus

Giant viruses challenged the definition of life when discovered in 2003. At over 700nm across (larger than some bacteria) with 1,000+ genes, mimiviruses blur the line between virus and cell. They even get infected by smaller 'virophages' - viruses that parasitize viruses. Some giant viruses have genes for protein synthesis, energy production, and DNA repair.

Giant viruses demonstrate category-breaking evolution. They don't fit the 'simple parasite' definition that worked for smaller viruses. The business parallel is hybrid entities that don't fit established categories: platform companies that are neither publishers nor utilities, gig-economy businesses that are neither employers nor marketplaces. When entities accumulate enough capabilities, old categories stop applying.