2007-01-29 17:57:30 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Because they are not alive but they are not in an animal or plant classification. They are like little robots that reproduce themselves as exact clones. I find them interesting.
2007-01-29 18:06:56 · answer #1 · answered by jademoon20 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Virus cannot reproduce by themselves, respond to changes or use energy to grow. This seems to indicate that viruses are not living organisms. However, when a virus enters the living cell of an organism, say a human, it is able to reproduce. It uses the energy of the host cells for this purpose. After the formation if thousands of viruses, the host cell often dies, it bursts and the new viruses spread and invade other cells. As a large number of host cells die, the person falls ill. So they are considered to be on the border line of living and non-living.
Hope this helps :)
2016-08-11 05:18:35 · answer #2 · answered by Devika 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves, respond to changes or use energy or grow. This seems to indicate that viruses are not living organisms. However when a virus enters the living cell of an organism, it is able to reproduce. It uses the energy of host cells for this purpose. It is therefore considered to be in the borderline of living and non-living.
2016-06-11 21:32:14 · answer #3 · answered by susmita 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to be regarded as a living thing you must be able to copy/reproduce yourself. Viruses must invade the cell and then trick it into thinking its part of its DNA make up. When the cell divides and reproduces then the virus. That is not the complete answer but I hope it helps.
2007-01-29 18:08:11 · answer #4 · answered by Melanie W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Viruses are LIKE living things because:
--they contain a nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA
--they have a coat made of protein
Viruses are NOT LIKE living things because:
--viruses are not made of cells (no cytoplasm, plasma membrane, etc.)
--viruses do not use energy
--viruses do not exchange gases with the environment
--viruses do not reproduce themselves
When we list the kingdoms of living things, viruses are not in any of the kingdoms.
2007-01-29 18:03:30 · answer #5 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can't reproduce on their own, but they do reproduce by infecting cells. Also, they are basically bundles of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a protective coating. The commonly accepted definition of life (according, at least, to Wikipedia) states that life is cellular, which a virus is not. Finally, they don't metabolise, which, from what I can see, means they don't eat or repair themselves.
Huh. No reproduction, no eating. Not much of a life, anyway.
2007-01-29 18:07:55 · answer #6 · answered by random6x7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when viruses are outside the body of a living organism they show symptoms of non-living things. And as they enter the body of living organism they show symptoms of living things ie:- they replicate. They also contain DNA or RNA which signifies that they are living.
2007-01-29 18:04:27 · answer #7 · answered by Tariq M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they can't live on their own, they use energy and dna from another cell,and without it, they die
2007-01-29 18:05:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋