the meaning of grapple with in the following context

[noha]

The ubiquity and prevalence of viral genes in the genomes of cellular organisms is a measure of the influence of viruses on the evolution of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and we are only beginning to grapple with the origin of viruses themselves. The science of virology is younger than the field of bacteriology.

I think it means to discover or to understand not to face or stand against.

Source: A very short introduction to microbiology by Nicolas P money

[swansont]

In this context, it would be "understand and investigate"