Question

Why aren't viruses considered "alive"?  What does something have to do to be considered alive?   Does the discovery of Giruses (giant viruses like Pandoraviruses) change the way we view viruses as being alive or non-living?

Answer 1

b Viruses are not considerd as alive because of following resdons:-

1.they lack some of the key characteristics of living organisms, such as a cytoplasm of organelles. 2.

They cannot carry out cellular functions such as metabolism and homeostasis. 3.

They do not grow as cells do by dividing in two and even though they have genetic material

4. they cannot reproduce outside their host cell.

Virusen cAn be alive in living cells. Because they sustain themsleves and produce energy which us neccedary for life

But viruses have DNA and RNA that cannot reproduce without host.