There is a lot of debate about this one. Viruses are dimply DNA in a protein capsule. They have none of the cellular machinery that sustains life, but instead use the resources of the host cell. Some consider viruses to be a form of life. Others do not.
They both contain genetic material (RNA OR DNA), and they both reproduce.
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea. Viruses are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are the most abundant type of biological entity. Viruses consist of two or three parts: all viruses have genes made from either DNA or RNA, macromolecules that carry genetic information; all have a protein coat that protects these genes; and some have an envelope of lipids that surrounds them when they are outside a cell. The shapes of viruses range from simple helical and icosahedralforms to more complex structures. Most viruses are about one hundred times smaller than an average bacterium. The origins of viruses in the evolutionary history of Life are unclear: some may have evolved from plasmids - pieces of DNA that can move between cells - while others may have evolved from bacteria. In evolution, viruses are an important means of horizontal gene transfer, which increases genetic diversity.
Viruses spread in many ways; plant viruses are often transmitted from plant to plant by insects that feed on sap, such as aphids, while animal viruses can be carried by blood-sucking insects. These disease-bearing organisms are known as vectors. Influenza viruses are spread by coughing and sneezing. The norovirus and rotavirus, common causes of viral gastroenteritis, are transmitted by the faecal-oral route and are passed from person to person by contact, entering the body in food or water. HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected blood. Viruses can infect only a limited range of host cells called the "host range". This can be broad as when a virus is capable of infecting many species or narrow.
Viruses and living cells both have genetic material and protein (makes up their capsid).
Both can also mutate.
Viruses resemble forms of life because they can multiply. Viruses can also decompose or rot biological material like other life forms.
Viruses are life-like because following reasons
Reproduction
Surely viruses are living things!
Genetic material, either DNA or RNA.
Active (non-killed) viruses are living organisms.
It is because viruses are not made up of cells
Viruses are not classified as living, while cellular organisms are. Viruses are essentially a protein case with mRNA inside. Cells are far more complicated.
Viruses are similar to living organisms because both contain hereditary material (RNA or DNA), and both reproduce. Viruses are different from living organisms because they do not use energy to grow, and do not use energy to respond to their surroundings.
viruses and pirons -- it should be noted that these 'organisms' are in the grey area between living and non-living things.
viruses are non living and bacteria are living organisms
viruses do not grow, and viruses do not respond to changes in their environment. Therefore, viruses are not living organisms. All living things reproduce, but Viruses need living cells to reproduce because Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves.
Active (non-killed) viruses are living organisms.
No viruses should not be considered living organisms because they require a host to live &therefore are not an organism but an infestation.
viruses are on the borderline of living and non living while organisms are living, viruses are simple structured, they have a DNA strand surrounded by a protein coat and sometimes a tail while organisms consist of complex cells
It is because viruses are not made up of cells
Viruses require a living organism to do anything - most especially to reproduce.
Viruses require a living organism to do anything - most especially to reproduce.
Living. Because viruses are caused by germs...which are living organisms
All animals are living, but viruses are classified as non-living organisms.
Viruses are things that spread and contain germs. An Organism is a living thing.
Viruses are things that spread and contain germs. An Organism is a living thing.