Why is a virus not considered a living cell?

Answer 1

Basically because it does not have the things required to BE a cell, which is considered to be an organism. A virus is not considered an organism. The virus has a core of RNA or DNA which is surrounded by a protein coat. Unlike cells that can either go through mitosis or binary fission, viruses cannot replicate itself unless it is in a host cell.

Answer 2

viruses don't have a nucleus, and scientists have a debate on if viruses are alive because they can't reproduce on their own, also viruses are smaller than cells
Viruses are not living because they require a host cell. All cells are living. Viruses are primarily a protein coat for protection and within is RNA or DNA. They are incredibly much smaller.

Answer 3

Virus hijacks cell's biochemical machinery to replicate it's own dna, because it can't replicate on it's own and it doesn't have metabolism, thus vuruses are not considered to be living organisms.

Answer 4

A virus isn't considered living because it isn't made up of cells and needs other cellular organisms to reproduce. It has its own set of DNA, but has no way of producing its own proteins and reproducing.

Answer 5

Viruses do not have a metabolic system of their own, they don't have a special body of their own but still are living species. they attack other cells (any other animal cell including human) and use the metabolic systems of the attacked cells to carry out its functions and to multiply. before attacking a cell a virus is just equivalent to dust particle.

Answer 6

A virus lacks cellular structure and cannot carry out metabolic processes on its own. It requires a host cell to reproduce and lacks the ability to perform essential functions that living cells typically do.

Answer 7

Well, all viruses are not cells! Where did you get that question?

Answer 8

Because they are just a piece of RNA or DNA that injects its RNA or DNA into a host to produce more.