An actinide dependent shadow biosphere of archaea and viroids and related disorder of porphyrin metabolism can contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome x, malignancy, psychiatric disorders, autoimmune disease, AIDS, prion disease, neuronal degeneration and epileptogenesis. These are civilizational diseases. Archaeal porphyrin synthesis is crucial in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Porphyrins may serve as regulatory molecules modulating immune, neural, endocrine, metabolic and genetic systems. The porphyrins photo-oxidation generated free radicals can produce immune activation, produce cell death, activate cell proliferation, produce insulin resistance and modulate conscious/ quantal perception. Porphyrins can regulate hemispheric dominance. The archaeal porphyrins functions as key regulatory molecules with mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors playing an important role. The role of porphyrins in abiogenesis and origin of life as well as biological universe is discussed

Dr Ravikumar Kurup trained in Internal Medicine, Neurology and Metabolic Medicine at Medical College, Trivandrum and Christian Medical College, Vellore. He holds a doctorate degree in Internal Medicine and Neurology. He is a member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India. He works as Professor of Metabolic Medicine