Question

Some viruses are programmed to reproduce by identifying bacteria, killing them, and assembling new viruses. Viruses do not eat the bacteria and do not grow after they are made. Viruses are not alive. Explain two reasons why.

Answer 1

Answer:

• So were they ever alive? Most biologists say no. Viruses are not made out of cells, they can't keep themselves in a stable state, they don't grow, and they can't make their own energy. Even though they definitely replicate and adapt to their environment, viruses are more like androids than real living organisms.
• Viruses are considered by some biologists to be a life form, because they carry genetic material, reproduce, and evolve through natural selection, although they lack the key characteristics, such as cell structure, that are generally considered necessary criteria for life.