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Chapter 18: Problem 1

Discuss why viruses are considered nonliving.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Viruses are considered nonliving because they do not meet the criteria that define living things. They do not have cellular structure, metabolic activity, and cannot reproduce without a host cell's machinery.

Step by step solution

01

Define Characteristics of Living Things

Living things are characterized by a variety of features: they are made up of cells, they can grow and reproduce, they can respond to stimuli, they have metabolism, they can evolve over time, and they live in a complex and cooperative organization.
02

Explain Viruses' Structure and Function

Viruses are different from living organisms. While they can reproduce, they must use the host cell's machinery to do so - they infiltrate a host cell and 'hijack' its reproductive facility to multiply. They don't grow or engage in metabolic activities. Moreover, viruses are not made up of cells.
03

Compare Viruses to Living Things

Comparing the characteristics of viruses to those of living things, it becomes clear that viruses fail to meet several key criteria for being classed as 'living'. They do not grow, do not have metabolism and are not composed of cells.

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