are viruses living organism ??? WHy or why not?

Answer 1

Many scientists say viruses are not alive because:

1. Not made of cells - no cytoplasm, no plasma membrane, ...
2. Don't use energy or exchange gases
3. Do not reproduce themselves

Answer 2

It has been argued extensively whether viruses are living organisms. Most virologists consider them non-living, as they do not meet all the criteria of the generally accepted definition of life. They are similar to obligate intracellular parasites as they lack the means for self-reproduction outside a host cell, but unlike parasites, viruses are generally not considered to be true living organisms. A definitive answer is still elusive. Some organisms considered to be living exhibit characteristics of both living and non-living particles, as viruses do. For those who consider viruses living, viruses are an exception to the cell theory proposed by Theodor Schwann, as viruses are not made up of cells.

Answer 3

Yes, viruses are living organisms.

This has been endlessly debated by the scientific community.

In short, the DNA or RNA of a virus can replicate, just as the DNA of bacteria and eucaryotic cells replicate.

In the case of a virus, the covering is a protein coat, for a cell it is a cell wall or cell membrane.

A virus requires a living cell in order to replicate, but a human cannot replicate without access to amino acids and other foods we cannot synthesize.

And no cell can replicate in outer space, so all "life" on earth requires some special conditions in order to replicate their genetic material.

Answer 4

Virius are classified as none living. Think of it this way a virus has genric code for a living cell so that a cell can make copies of the virus, with the virus being in a living cell it is useless. it much like your computer virus, you have to have the code working on your computer for it to be able to work and spend, if on a copy disk it is inactive and can do nothing, until inside a computer harddrive.

Answer 5

Viruses were nonliving, last I checked. (Not undead, nonliving. There's a subtle distinction.)

Apparently it has something to do with the nuances of the definition of "living"... I forgot the specifics long ago, unfortunately.

Undoubtedly Wikipedia has the answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/virus

God bless.