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are virus living things?, major science debate
creole
post Oct 12 2009, 03:00 PM
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your thoughts pl0x.
 
 
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Gigi
post Oct 12 2009, 07:16 PM
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Well I don't think the answer to this question is as rigid. A virus definitely treads the line between living and non-living.

- Do not have a real cell structure (which is what makes them NOT prokaryotes or eukaryotes)
- BUT they have their own genetic material
- However, they cannot reproduce without a host
- BUT they also mutate, following laws of natural selection

..among other things.

But I've always thought of them as not living things, because I consider cells to be the building blocks of life. And since viruses do not have enough structures to be considered cells, not even a nucleus but just some floating genetic material, they're not living. Also they can't even reproduce without a host. It's just kind of sad and not alive.
 
heyo-captain-jac...
post Oct 12 2009, 07:32 PM
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QUOTE(Gigi @ Oct 12 2009, 07:16 PM) *
not even a nucleus but just some floating genetic material, they're not living.

Same with Bacteria, but they're almost universally considered living.
 

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