Question

When you recognize the characteristics of living things. Do you recognize virus as living if yes why, if not, why

Answer 1

There is always a conflict between the living and non living nature of viruses.

Viruses are non living in nature when they are found outside the host cell. They can not replicate in independent manner. They require host cell for this purpose.

Viruses are living because they have the ability to reproduce in host cell by parasitng them. They can alter the machinery function of host cell. They can utilise the host machinery for their own functions. That's why virus can be treated as living material. They also have their own genetic material.

Atlast, we can say that viruses are alive.