Retroviruses (Spoiler till part 3.A)

What is a retrovirus?

Well, it is, oversimplified, a virus that inserts a copy of its genes into the DNA of the host cell, changing the genome. Making the host cell produce more copies of itself. However, in this story, it is used by humans to edit the genome of all sorts of life. It is even used to change the main character.

This tech is used used in real-life, this is the idea behind CRISPR/Cas9.

I am using this to help explain why alien life on another world looks similar to Earth's when they should not, yet no one knows what aliens could and how it would appear.

However, one drawback in this technology it is inaccurate at times, potential even causing cancer.

I am taking a HUGE leap and assuming in over 100 years; the technology has dramatically improved enough to make things in the story even plausible.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus]

[https://www.genetherapynet.com/viral-vector/retroviruses.html]