Author Topic: are viruses living (Read 587 times)

Perry · January 05, 2017, 11:37:06 AM

forget the science description. do you think viruses are classified as life?

my argument: all life boils down to a bunch of elements arranged into proteins, to form certain functions. life doesn't have sentience but can form sentient beings. viruses contain genetic material and are made of the same chemicals as living cells. they have no nucleus, but bacteria dont either and are considered living. viruses need a host to reproduce, but when you think about reproduction, loveually reproducing beings need a host to contain genetic material (sperm and egg)

although they dont grow and just exist as genetic material in a capsule, they are still made of the same materials as other living stuff, they just perform a different function.

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Pastrey Crust · January 05, 2017, 11:41:50 AM

No, viruses aren't life. They're RNA. And they don't need a third party to reproduce. They use enzymes to destroy the host's DNA and turn their RNA into DNA so the host makes more and more viruses. They don't use "the same materials" as other living stuff. Bacterias don't have nucleus but they have DNA and are able to reproduce on their own, obtain nutrients on their own, and defend themselves. Viruses literally just hook up with whatever they can find.

Perry · January 05, 2017, 11:44:14 AM

they're made of the same chemicals, as in proteins and genetic material. they also require a host to exist, otherwise they just become inactive and die.

they're literally chemical parasites but after all, other living cells such as bacteria function the same way, and can transfer genetic material to other cells

Pastrey Crust · January 05, 2017, 11:45:45 AM

Other living cells don't function the same way because they have mechanisms to defend, reproduce, obtain nutrients, and in some cases, move. Viruses don't have any of that and cells aren't 100% proteins. They have lipids and carbohydrates too. Viruses lack all of that.

And other cells don't require hosts to live. They either live alone, in colonies, or in a system.

The Resonte! · January 05, 2017, 11:47:23 AM

you can consider everything to be living on some level

except for. maybe like. metal.

snot2 · January 05, 2017, 11:58:46 AM

anti life

Drydess · January 05, 2017, 11:59:04 AM

debatable
they're parasitic but still carry the same need for self-preservation that any living organism does

i think kurzgesagt did a clip about it some time ago