A virus consist of DNA or RNA in a protein coat. it can reproduce and is capable of movement from one host to another. Is a virus alive? Explain.
2007-06-11 13:37:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It depends on who you ask. This question is highly debateable and is really no right answer. The crux of this questions comes down to how you define something as being "alive" From your question, it seems you assume "alive" means reproducible and movement from one host to another, in which case then yes, a virus is a living organisms. However, they do not metablolize on their own and require the host cell to reproduction.
I actually had this exact question on my preliminary exam while I was working on my Ph.D. I had to go over the arguments for both sides and pick one side and defend it. There really wasn't a right or wrong answer, I just had to explain my reasoning. I think I ended up writing about 7-8 pages. I don't really remember what I wrote but I am pretty sure I took the side of no living.
Anyway, it's an interesting question.
2007-06-12 04:13:46 · answer #1 · answered by alynnemgb 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if can reproduce, then it is alive. It can be a virus which uses another cells mechanisms which probably has DNA. like HIV.
it can live outside a protein coat - that is used to trick the host defenses and gain access. It isn't a very complex form of life but it can reproduce when it gets inside a host cell - making many copies of it self.
The fact that a virus or a cell can be reduced to a recipe on paper then reconstituted like they did with a killer flu recently - it is a question of philosophy not science.
Good luck.
2007-06-11 13:50:11 · answer #2 · answered by Lyrad 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
TRUE. Just remember that it's always either an RNA OR a DNA virus. A virus cannot contain both DNA and RNA.
2016-04-01 02:40:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no....a virus is in a gray area in biology.
On one hand, viruses do reproduce. They have genetic material, they evolve, and they pass down their 'genes' to their offspring.
That said, viruses can't propagate without host cells of some kind. They can't move on their own, they don't have any other life processes (eating, respiration, etc.), and they don't respond to changes in their environment.
Since they don't meet all the criteria for living organisms, most biologists don't consider viruses as alive.
2007-06-11 13:53:02 · answer #4 · answered by swilliamrex 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A virus is a life-form. There is no debate among professional scientists about that. Those who are still in doubt need to open their mind to ALL the strategies that evolution has come up with.
Viruses simply go through a dormant period where no metabolism or replication occurs.
Many bacteria do the same thing when they sporulate but we're not arguing about them being alive.
Humans also do the same thing when they goto church. (he he)
Furthermore, you can kill a virus such that it can nolonger infect and replicate. SO, before you killed it, it was.....
2007-06-11 17:36:06 · answer #5 · answered by michaelhobbsphd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take my cue on this issue from taxonomy.
We classify all living things into domains or kingdoms, depending on the source.
No kingdom contains viruses.
No domain contains viruses.
I take this to mean that while we debate this issue, viruses are not classified as living things.
2007-06-11 13:48:25 · answer #6 · answered by ecolink 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
it is a debatable topic
2007-06-11 13:50:51 · answer #7 · answered by Chongor 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes it is is uses energy therefore it is alive
2007-06-11 13:40:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋