However, there is still more to be gleaned about viral origins and their role in the origins of life. For example, one current mystery is that viruses and extracellular vesicles (a modern, non-replicating biological compartment) have a number of known overlapping points, as viruses can use the same endocytic pathway as extracellular vesicles, while extracellular vesicles can even contain proteins and genetic materials of viruses. Thus, there may be some historical connection between viruses and simple compartments such as extracellular vesicles, which suggests that if viruses existed on early Earth, then they could have interacted with contemporaneous primitive compartments, including both vesicles and/or coacervates. In particular, the ability of viruses to transfer genetic material between cells and their potential to influence the evolution of organisms has led to speculation about their possible involvement in the evolution of life, especially with respect to the RNA world as described above. Furthermore, viruses have played a crucial role in the evolution of cells and organisms, with the first cells possibly emerging through a process of symbiosis, as viruses potentially provided the genetic diversity and innovation necessary for the emergence of new functions and structures in primitive systems. Thus, viruses may also have been capable of interacting with primitive compartments through the exchange of genetic material. Given that primitive coacervates may have allowed facile exchange of encapsulated genetic components, it is plausible that horizontal gene transfer between primitive coacervates and viruses could have taken place (similar to that observed between viruses and eukaryotes or even LUCA ), potentially providing a possible input for coacervates to adapt to the surrounding environment and fostering coacervate evolution. However, very few studies linking viruses with primitive compartments have taken place, save for a small number of examples with synthetic protocells. Thus, more studies elucidating the interaction between primitive compartments (not only coacervates, but other systems as well) and viruses are needed. As a starting point, we note a number of facts which point to the plausibility of viralcoacervate connections. First, viruses can be encapsulated within coacervates, resulting in their longer term viability and delivery in biotechnological applications. This suggests that primitive coacervates could have compartmentalized primitive viruses, possibly for protective purposes. Next, LLPS of viral proteins and other components within the cytoplasm of infected cells supports viral replication. In fact, assembly of certain viruses within infected cells must occur within phase separated compartments, suggesting that primitive coacervates could have facilitated primitive viral assembly. Finally, viruses even possess IDPs, which themselves may be able to phase separate; the connection of viral IDPs (which could be more ancient in origin) to other known IDPs within membraneless organelles could reveal more about the composition of primitive IDPs and coacervates.