Question

briefly explain why viruses considered as being at the borderline between living and nonliving things with examples

Answer 1

Viruses are considered on the borderline of living and non living because only when they are inside a living cell do they fulfil the criteria of being regarded as living entities. Outside, they act as non living entities.

Answer 2

Virus is considered a borderline between living and non living because it has features similar to both. Outside a living body a virus can be crystallized and appears to be non living as it cannot carry any meatbolic activities. But once it enters a suitable host it activates its genetic material and is able to carry out all the activities using the cellular machinery of the host cell.