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Q: Why there is a controversy about whether virus are truly alive or not?
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Is a virus a cell?

There is a lot of debate over whether a virus is truly alive; however, in general, a single virus is generally referred to as a particle rather than a cell.


Does a virus need living space?

No. A virus needs only a host body to survive. This is the reason many scientists can't decide whether or not a virus should be considered 'alive.'


Is it true biologists do not consider viruses to be living things?

There is some debate on the issue of whether a virus is truly alive, or is instead just a kind of self-replicating poison. Purified virus can be prepared in the form of a crystal, that looks just like salt. A virus has absolutely no biological activity or metabolism unless it is inside a cell of some other organism. On its own it is an inert chemical. But then, viruses do reproduce, which seems to be a uniquely biological activity. So, it is a bit ambiguous. Personally I believe that viruses are not actually alive.


Which of these objects is are alive A protein molecule A cell A virus?

A cell is alive. A protein is definitely not alive. A virus - well, that depends on who you ask.


Why is there is debate about the viruses being alive or dead?

The debate is not about whether viruses are alive or dead. Rather, there is debate about whether a virus should be considered a living thing. Viruses are not like living cells, because they do not have metabolic processes, and they cannot reproduce themselves. Instead, they invade a host cell, and the virus's genes cause the host cell to produce new viruses. However, the question of whether this "counts" as being alive is a semantic one. Viruses have some properties of living things, and they lack other properties, so the question of whether they are "alive" comes down to one's definition of the word "life."


Is HIV alive or dead?

It's a virus. It's alive.


Why isnt a virus alive?

A virus does not fulfill all requirements for life, eg. no reproduction through meiosis or mitosis


Is virus an autotroph or hetrotroph?

Neither. A virus is not really alive in a traditional sense.


Do virus' have cell membrane?

Virus does not have a 'cell' membrane in the sense of a phospholipid bilayer, and virus is not commonly defined as a cellular organism by convention anyways (therefore the debate about whether a virus is alive). Most virus, however, do possess an outer protein coat that protects its genetic material.</


Can hiv virus be alive in mosquitos body?

No.


What is the difference between a pathogenic bacteria and a virus?

A pathogenic bacterium is alive while a virus is not.


Is this virus considered a living organism?

Most scientists consider them to be special in that they don't all agree whether viruses are truly alive. They exhibit many of the qualities that define life, but they are unable to maintain their life on their own as far as metabolism is concerned. They actually "steal" a living cells metabolic processes. That's why some say that they are not actually alive. And if they are alive, they can be considered special in that they don't fit the usual description of a living organism.