Patrick Forterre

Professor Patrick Forterre, born 21 August 1949 in Paris, is a French writer and researcher in biology. He is Head of the Department of Microbiology at the Pasteur Institute and is known for his work on Archaea, viruses and the evolution of life.
Biography.
In 1988, he became head of a research team at the Institute of Genetics and Microbiology (IGM) in Orsay and directed research on Archaea, the new living area discovered in 1977 by Carl Woese. In 2004, he joined the Pasteur Institute as Director of Microbiology .
Patrick Forterre is particularly known for his theories on evolution and his stances on the recognition of viruses as living beings in their own right.
He works as a scientist in the documentary film Species of Species, produced in 2008.