bio question!!! yippeeee!!! its a real doozy.

[peachfuzz]

the typical norm in the bio world is that a virus is non-living. does anyone have a differing opinion and why? curious as to what your guys thoughts and theories are on this.

[Amorphic]

i dont believe they are 'living'

if you analyze the criteria for a being to be alive, (generally) it requires nourishment etc, can move freely and can consume food.

viruses can only survive with a host to feed their nutrients and expand their growth, and with the eventual death of the host the virus' 'life' is over as well, until it spreads to a new host.

virus' are dormant and display no functioning when they are not working inside a host.

(yes i know this is a very generalized and unscientific explanation, but those of you that have studied biology (myself included) will understand what im talking about and can elaborate more)

[Voice of Reason]

To determine whether a virus is alive or not, we could compare the virus's characteristics to what many biologists consider the requirements of life. All living things have several common characteristics. Some nonliving things may have one or more of the characteristics but not all of them. For a virus then to be classified as ALIVE it must, reproduce, obtain and use energy, grow, develop, and die, respond to the environment.

Viruses do have DNA or RNA, and DNA is the code for life. Having genetic material is an important step towards being classified as alive. DNA controls the evolution of the cell and the organism. Like living things, viruses evolve through time and thus can adapt to their environment. But unlike cells, viruses cannot use their genetic material by themselves. They need a living cell in order to function and reproduce; otherwise they are playing dead.

[Voice of Reason]

As humans, we like to classify things because it helps us understand the physical world. Viruses must have a host cell to live and reproduce. Outside of the host cell, viruses are pieces of genetic molecules that can do nothing by themselves. Viruses are right on the border between living and nonliving. Most biologists including me currently see the virus as a nonliving infectious particle. Other biologists disagree and suggest they are alive because of what happens inside the host cell.

Getting a definite answer if viruses are alive or not may never happen.

But hey, that's life.