Is viruses considered living or nonliving?

Answer 1

That is debatable. There are two solid arguments.

Viruses can't reproduce without a host cell. Viruses can't transfer food into energy. They don't create waste. They don't fit the current definition of life.

Viruses can more, reproduce at all, have nuclei. The definition of life was imperfect and needs to be changed because viruses fit many standards.

I personally don't know.

Answer 2

A virus is a living organism

A virus (from the Latin virus meaning toxin or poison) is a microscopic organism consisting of genetic material (RNA or DNA) surrounded by a protein, lipid (fat), or glycoprotein coat. Viruses are unique organisms because they cannot reproduce without a host cell. After contacting a host cell, a virus will insert genetic material into the host and take over the host's functions. The cell, now infected, continues to reproduce, but it reproduces more viral protein and genetic material instead of its usual products. It is this process that earns viruses the classification of "parasite".

Non-living, because it is not able to perform all life functions without a host.

Answer 3

Still being debated. While viruses have genetic material, and are capable of replication, they have no true metabolism, and must use a living organism as a host, as they can't actually perform these 'life' functions themselves. Also note that viruses have been synthesized in the laboratory, but still there is no claim that scientists have actually created a living thing.

Answer 4

A virus is a living organism

A virus (from the Latin virus meaning toxin or poison) is a microscopic organism consisting of genetic material (RNA or DNA) surrounded by a protein, lipid (fat), or glycoprotein coat. Viruses are unique organisms because they cannot reproduce without a host cell. After contacting a host cell, a virus will insert genetic material into the host and take over the host's functions. The cell, now infected, continues to reproduce, but it reproduces more viral protein and genetic material instead of its usual products. It is this process that earns viruses the classification of "parasite".

Answer 5

Viruses are considered nonliving because they cannot carry out essential life processes on their own, such as metabolism or reproduction. They rely on a host cell to replicate and can be thought of as biological entities that exist in a boundary state between living and nonliving.

Answer 6

Viruses are non-living and cannot survive outside of a living host for long, unlike bacteria.

Answer 7

Viruses kind of mess up the sharp dividing line between "alive" and "not alive". Arguments can be made either way. Most scientists consider them not truly alive.

Answer 8

Non living