Also known as the Mother, Founder, Clay and Primogenitor virus across various reports, the Progenitor virus was the foundation retrovirus on which all of Umbrella's molecular engineering research was built upon. The unique quality of the virus to dramatically modify a host cell without also killing the host led to many discoveries inlcuding the t-virus and t-Veronica virus.
History
The Progenitor virus was discovered and named on December 4, 1966 by Ozwell E. Spencer, Edward Ashford, and James Marcus. Details on how the virus was discovered were previously not available although it was theorized that Progentior must have previously existed in an isolated system since its zoonotic attributes would have otherwise allowed it to become a trans-species pandemic. It is now confirmed to have been discovered in Africa, in an isolated underground cave system.
Origins
Originally, Spencer and his alumnus Marcus and fellow nobleman Ashford conducted research on an existing virus, from which they deduced that a viral strain like Progenitor must exist. The virus's origins lay in a plant named "Stairway to the Sun" found in a region of West Africa. What led to its discovery was a multi-volume series of books penned by Henry Travis, who happened to detail within his writings the Ndipaya tribe and their unique selection process for their kings; through the ingestion of the flower. Legend has it that a few individuals would be immune to the virus contained within the plant (later to be known as Progenitor) and would gain several enhancements following ingestion. Without natural immunity, the virus would lead to quick death due to its highly toxic nature. 1 Spencer, who took an interest in the series for the folklore contained within it was immediately intrigued and hypothesised that the plant held significance. An excavation was held in September 1966. Joining them was one of Marcus' students, Brandon Bailey, who was head researcher of the research team the three had brought along to the site. The plant's habitat was an underground garden known as the "Sun Garden".
Soon after the initial discovery the three scientists began researching the virus, but progress slowed as their laboratory necessities began to supersede their resources. In order to covertly grant their growing budgetary needs and hire additional researchers to aid in the progress, as well as mask their research into the virus' potential use as a biological weapon, Spencer suggested forming a pharmaceutical company as a front to their operations. In response, the Arklay Research Facility was used as a means to research the virus. Meanwhile, Ashford left the research team with the virus to conduct his own studies along with his son Alexander Ashford. Deeming the excavation a resounding success, Spencer, Marcus and Bailey returned to the United States with samples of the virus, as well as the Sun flower.
During the early months of 1967, difficulties arose with cultivating the Progenitor virus outside of it's natural environment. While the flowers would grow exceptionally well, the virus would not be present. 2
Human Testing
The Arklay Research Facility became fully operational in 1967, allowing Spencer to conduct his research on the virus while having a team of researchers develop it further. Later that year on November 10, Spencer secretly conducted the first human experiments with the Progenitor virus on the abducted Jessica and Lisa Trevor. Jessica was administered the mutant "TYPE-A" strain while Lisa was injected with the "TYPE-B" strain and then moved to the underground Arklay laboratory for observation. Five days later, on November 15, Jessica Trevor died from the viral infection while her daughter slowly degenerated physically and mentally. 3
Lisa's persistent state between life and death became a breakthrough in Arklay's viral research and she was kept for many decades to come as both a premiere test subject and perpetual enigma. Spencer safely guarded her existence from anyone who was not directly working inside the Arkaly Research Facility, including his peers James Marcus and Edward Ashford. The architect of the Arklay facility himself, George Trevor, was also originally meant to become a test subject for Progenitor, but he was disposed of by Spencer instead.
Umbrella Corporation
In March 1968, "Umbrella Pharmaceutical" was founded and the Progenitor research's focus became primarily military, although Spencer had an ulterior plan for the virus; as an evolutionary tool to give birth to a superior breed of human beings. Meanwhile, James Marcus and Brandon Bailey returned to Africa in order to retrieve more samples of the Progenitor virus due to the inability to cultivate the virus elsewhere. The life of Edward Ashford was taken by a Progenitor infection when an experiment went out of control in July 1968-- poisoned by its toxic nature. It is believed that this "accident" was orchestrated by Spencer. In August, the Umbrella Management Training Facility finished construction, and Marcus was subsequently transferred there as the first director by Spencer, leaving Bailey alone in Africa to operate the facility there. Unconcerned by his colleague's death, Marcus conducted research on the virus at the Training Facility.
In 1969, the Umbrella Africa Research Facility finished construction, allowing samples of Progenitor to be produced and studied en massé and shipped throughout the globe to Umbrella's growing number of facilities. Brandon Bailey became the director and chief researcher of this new facility.
On September 19, 1977, Marcus finally made his breakthrough and created a radical new mutant strain of the Progenitor virus that he called the "Tyrant", or "t"-virus, by directionally evolving attributes of the leech genome into the Progenitor's own. The t-virus could induce radical mutations upon animals and plants alike, finally giving Umbrella a weaponised variant of Progenitor and allowing them to produce viable B.O.W.s at last, with Marcus' early research producing the weapons known as the Lurker, Eliminator and Plague Crawler. The discovery was kept a secret fearing that his peers, especially Spencer, would extort his research and claim it as their own. Despite the secrecy, the t-virus was stolen by Albert Wesker and William Birkin under orders from Spencer sometime after its discovery while an Umbrella research team evaluated the results of Marcus' research. 4
Research and development into the Progenitor virus remained strong up to the day Umbrella was officially absolved, remaining the foundation for all new bioweapon research projects that ran simultaneous to the t-virus. 5 Later, the location of Progenitor was discovered by Tricell, who re-opened the Africa Research Facility and began conducting their own research into the virus until 2009.
Further Research
Viral Variants
TYPE-A
A mutant strain of Progenitor produced at the Arklay Research Facility and utilized for human experiments as part of an early attempt to develop a strain that would allow the host to survive post-infection. It was administered to Jessica Trevor, however the virus failed to adapt to her DNA and ended up killing her.
TYPE-B
Another mutant strain of Progenitor produced alongside TYPE-A. It was administered to Lisa Trevor and successfully managed to bond with her DNA, however it quickly reduced her intelligence.
Wesker Virus
An experimental viral variant of Progenitor developed exclusively for Project W.
Uroboros Virus
A Progenitor variant developed by Albert Wesker and Tricell for the purpose of artificial genetic selection and evolution.
Ancillary Chemicals
P30
With the abolishment of Umbrella, Progenitor research was taken up by Tricell, producing new results. One such result was the ancillary chemical "P30", which would temporarily give a subject superhuman abilities and make them highly susceptible to control. A recorded usage of this chemical was on Jill Valentine, who had a device implanted in her chest to ensure continuous administration of the chemical. The reason for this is that the chemical would quickly be metabolized and expelled from within the subject's system following injection, and would need continuous top-ups to ensure proper operation. It was sold by Tricell commercially and developed alongside Las Plagas in order to garner additional funding for the Uroboros virus.
PG67A/W
Developed by Tricell for use by Albert Wesker, "PG67A/W", or "Progenitor No.67 Albert/Wesker", was a serum developed to correct the erratic nature produced in the later stages of Wesker's infection with the experimental "Wesker Virus" administered to him by Ozwell E. Spencer. When administered in precise amounts it would correct the unstable nature of the virus, too much however was detrimental to Wesker's condition, and considered highly poisonous.