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[Iris]

Long ago our cells were infected by viroids. At one point, by chance, their genome has been integrated into ours. Restriction enzymes we have evolved protect us from infection, but due to their insertion into the genome, our cells begin producing viroids at a low but steady rate. These are shed into the water around our colonies, serving a symbiotic role as they destroy bacteria and predators that get close.

I was going to suggest basically the same thing. History tells us that symbiotising your pathogens is a great life strategy!

(to clarify, +1)

+1

[scourge728]

Long ago our cells were infected by viroids. At one point, by chance, their genome has been integrated into ours. Restriction enzymes we have evolved protect us from infection, but due to their insertion into the genome, our cells begin producing viroids at a low but steady rate. These are shed into the water around our colonies, serving a symbiotic role as they destroy bacteria and predators that get close.

I was going to suggest basically the same thing. History tells us that symbiotising your pathogens is a great life strategy!

(to clarify, +1)

+1

+1

[King Zultan]

Long ago our cells were infected by viroids. At one point, by chance, their genome has been integrated into ours. Restriction enzymes we have evolved protect us from infection, but due to their insertion into the genome, our cells begin producing viroids at a low but steady rate. These are shed into the water around our colonies, serving a symbiotic role as they destroy bacteria and predators that get close.

I was going to suggest basically the same thing. History tells us that symbiotising your pathogens is a great life strategy!

(to clarify, +1)

+1

+1

+1

[Leonardo8]

I'll point out that all you did was produce some basic restriction enzymes. You stopped being infected because your improvements to the membrane stopped the viroids being able to infiltrate the cells in the first place. You couldn't use the viroids because they're not integrated into your genome. Besides, the bacteria you're facing have a roughly identical membrane structure, so they'd be invulnerable to the same viroids even if you had integrated them.

This. Also, just dumping our enzymes in the ocean isn't going to be very efficient.

[Icefire2314]

The tendrils that evolved to grow into the ground begin growing upwards too, to absorb some of the organic debris. The membranes on these tentacles grow sticky substances that grip nearby material and release digestive enzymes to break down and consume nearby organics. This mostly collects floating detritus but also occasionally floating critters and they get broken down and eaten as well.

[Icefire2314]

bump

[Leonardo8]

The tendrils that evolved to grow into the ground begin growing upwards too, to absorb some of the organic debris. The membranes on these tentacles grow sticky substances that grip nearby material and release digestive enzymes to break down and consume nearby organics. This mostly collects floating detritus but also occasionally floating critters and they get broken down and eaten as well.

+1

[Blood_Librarian]

Hydrogen "sacks" are collected from the acidic waters, and colonies develop a period of time where they develop a far thicker cellular membrane and enter a hibernation state until they float to an applicable area; in this case it may be the surface or other viable spots where the colony can develop or spontaneously develop a prosperity too.

[Icefire2314]

bump?

[Tesnivy812]

The tendrils that evolved to grow into the ground begin growing upwards too, to absorb some of the organic debris. The membranes on these tentacles grow sticky substances that grip nearby material and release digestive enzymes to break down and consume nearby organics. This mostly collects floating detritus but also occasionally floating critters and they get broken down and eaten as well.

+1

+1

[Paxiecrunchle]

Sorry if I was wat killed this, it was unintentional.