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Biologists consider dormant virions to be non-living because they must obtain a host to function and replicate themselves.

However, active viruses are considered to be living, by most scientists.

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14y ago

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Why do biologists consider viruses to be nonliving?

Viruses are not cells and do not have a cell membrane or other components of living cells. They cannot reproduce on their own. They cannot move on their own. They also can not use energy. They are alive in the sense that they are organic material, but not in the sense that they are independent living things.Also they cannot respond to stimulus.Most biologists today consider viruses to be nonliving because viruses do not have all the characteristics essential for life. Viruses are not cells and do not use their own energy to grow or to respond to their surroundings. Viruses also cannot make food, take in food, or produce wastes. The only way in which viruses are like organisms is that they are able to multiply.CREDITS FROM: NORTH CAROLINA 8TH GRADE PRENTICE HALL SCIENCE EXPLORER


What type of cell are viruses?

None. Viruses are acellular. Many biologists do not consider viruses to be living things in part because they are acellular. Look at any phylogeny (tree of life). Viruses are not on them.


How are viruses different to living organism?

They are Different because Viruses are nonliving.


Most biologists agree that the difference between living and nonliving matter can be explained by looking at what?

Most biologists agree that the difference between living and nonliving matter can be explained by looking at characteristics such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, and development. Living organisms exhibit these characteristics, which nonliving matter lacks.


Why are viruses called living as well as nonliving organisms?

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Do nonliving organisms contain DNA?

If by non-living you mean an object such as a sheet of metal then no they are not composed of cells. If you are referring to something dead, then yes the DNA is still intact at least for a while anyway they do deteriorate in time.


Do viruses reproduce with live or dead?

viruses are nonliving things. but they need living things to reproduces. so live


Where are viruses on the tree of life?

Many, if not most biologists do not consider viruses living. So, they are not on any phylogenetic tree that I know of. They may have a phylogeny that I am unaware of, though.


Is virus living or non living and why?

first of all virus is not an organism. it lacks cell, tissue and organ because of this virus is an entity or macro molecule rather than an organism.since virus is not organism it i9s also not living thing. virus is intermediate between living and non-living.


Virus is living or nonliving?

A virus is considered non-living. It does not have all the characteristics of a living thing unlike bacteria. Viruses need living cells to reproduce while any living things can reproduce (asexually or not).


Would you classify viruses as a livind thing or nonliving thing?

Viruses are considered nonliving because they cannot carry out essential life processes on their own, such as metabolism and reproduction. They need to infect a host cell to replicate and can't reproduce independently.


How does a biologist determine whether a thing is living or nonliving?

Biologists determine whether a thing is living or nonliving by a list of characteristics. These characteristics include the ability to reproduce, the ability to eat, the ability to grow and the ability to excrete waste.