2007-04-29 13:11:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Viruses cannot technically be classified as living for they do not fit in with any other living spieces. All a virus is is a protein capsule with either DNA, RNA, or both. It may be argued that they are similar to obligated intracellular organism, but they lack any organelles to produce/sustain life to be classified as living organisms.
Hope you find this useful.
2007-04-29 13:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by giggles10126 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Viruses should not be classified as living things because they cannot reproduce on their own nor are they made of cells. The thing that makes in complicated is that have DNA or RNA which are the coding for all life.
2007-04-29 20:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by jdzmumbles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im my opinion, i would say not alive, but this is an open ended question and the answer is still not determined. I don't believe it's alive because "Once it was established that viruses consist merely of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein shell, it became the scientific view that they are more complex biochemical mechanisms than living organisms."
Hope that helps! (try googling also..)
2007-04-29 20:23:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
viruses have characteristics of living and non living organisms...but lack some major characteristics, such as reproduction, to be considered living
michael is totally and completely wrong...its NOT plain and simple. sorry
2007-04-29 20:20:31 · answer #4 · answered by Matthew T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say "yes," unless you can come up with some third alternative.
If I stuck a piece of marble in your cell it wouldn't do so much, would it?
2007-04-29 20:15:13 · answer #5 · answered by TychaBrahe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
allie they are living plain and simple
2007-04-29 20:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by michael_54550 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋