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Some argue that viruses are not living organisms because they can only replicate themselves by infecting a host cell and therefore cannot reproduce on their own. And also viruses do not metabolize on their own.

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2 reasons why viruses are non living?

Viruses are considered non-living because they lack cellular structure and cannot carry out metabolic processes independently; they require a host cell to replicate and reproduce. Additionally, viruses do not exhibit growth or respond to stimuli in the way living organisms do, as they remain inert outside of a host.


Why are viruses non living?

Viruses are considered non-living because they are not cells. They do not exhibit some characteristics of life such as reproduction and growth.


What viruses are considered non living?

Viruses are considered non-living because they cannot carry out cellular activities on their own. They require a host cell to replicate and do not possess the ability to metabolize or grow.


What are reasons viruses are considered non living?

Two very important reasons are growth and reproduction. Viruses do not have a way of converting potential energy, or photonic energy, into useful forms; no metabolism. Viruses can not reproduce on their own and must hijack a cell's reproductive machinery to reproduce themselves.


Are viruses living why?

Viruses are not considered living organisms because they lack basic characteristics of life, such as the ability to replicate on their own or carry out metabolic processes. They require a host cell to reproduce and are considered to be more like biological entities that exist in a gray area between living and non-living.


What has living characteristics but is not alive?

Viruses have some characteristics of life but these are not considered living organisms as they are non cellular.


Do viruses have both animal and plant charateristics?

No. They are considered the dividing line between living and non-living.


What is the smallest non primate?

Bacteria are the smallest living creatures. Viruses are smaller but generally not considered living creatures.


Why are viruses classified as non living particles?

They do not reproduce asexually or sexually. Viruses need a host like a cell in order to reproduce. In the dormant state, they are virions, and considered to be nonliving. However, in their active state, as viruses, they are considered to be living organisms.


How does the lytic cycle show that viruses are not living things?

The lytic cycle involves the viruses injecting nucleic acid into the cell to make the cell "sick". The lytic cycle proves viruses are non-living because the only way the cells reproduced at the end of the cycle was because of the host cell. A virus cannot reproduce on its own (only can with a host cell) as to which any living thing could. Viruses are non-living organisms and the lytic cylce proves just that. Viruses alos contain protogramo fluids that kill the cell. These fluids are what mostly make a virus considered non-living for reasons scientists have not yet come to an understanding to. Hope this helped you!:)


Is a nonliving particles that causes disease?

Viruses are considered to be non-living things, and are capable of causing disease. The reason viruses are not considered living is because they lack many of the characteristics of life until they infect a host cell.


Viruses living or non living?

There actually living