Yes, I have heard of this too but again Occams razor would point to a higher probability of simpler building blocks (pseudo panspermia I believe is more what I have referred to) rather than more developed organisms but like I said if something is possible then it will be possible.
Discoveries of so many different extremophiles have made us realise life has wider parameters than we initially thought. So we know now some of them can exist in space for several years so we adjust our knowledge of the facts that are possible (I missed news on this, probably because I have cancelled my new scientist and scentific american subscriptions.)
But even so, these organisms still evolved and developed to reach this stage in space or other bodies in space. There is a chemical and biological evolution from simpler to more complex molecules occurring, just in space and other bodies on space rather than starting on Earth. Before starting a new phase of development and evolution on Earth.
Additionally, to add complexity both panspermia and abiogenesis may be possible to happen at the same time. Adding multiple potential origins of life, rather than just 1.
I think you are referring to Deinococcus radiodurans. First of all it has evolved to exist in multiple extreme environments. From what I had read about it, it was found in the coolant water tanks used for nuclear rods. So, it is already in water but usually found in other weird places like hydrothermal vents, however not exclusively in water also dry places, mud, faeces etc.
What they have found so far is that it had already evolved a different approach to repairing DNA and RNA which has evolved from UV exposure and dessication (extremely dry environments) and some other extreme environments.
The extreme conditions it has evolved in has enabled it to evolve unique capabilities to repair and withstand higher levels of radiation. Sometimes something can evolve in one area and have multiple uses like how serotonin and oxytocin in the brain also have other chemical occurences in other body systems. So, a protein or chemical can have potential more uses but also future evolutionary use in an environment the protein hasn’t been exposed to yet. In a sense, every expressed protein in any living organism may have more potential uses, benefits in environments and conditions it hasn’t been exposed to (or detriments lol). It doesn’t mean each protein and function must explicitly evolve for each capability.
For example, the evidence is starting to point to the resistance developed from dessication is more linked to also providing the protection from radiation. This is because mutant strains which have less protection from dessication also seem to have less protection from radiation. So it is a fortunate side effect rather than driven evolutionary property.
Yes, this is fascinating to contemplate too. Multiple points and places of molecules and organisms evolving and spreading across the universe.
Yes, going back to that definition of life. Many argue that viruses don’t quite fit into that neat category of life. Needing a host, predominantly RNA, no metabolic processes, its only life-like property is reproduction but still requires a host for this.