Are viruses alive

Introduction:

Viruses are infectious particles that contain the genetic material either DNA or RNA molecule (the viral genome). The genetic material are packed in the protein capsid, a protective coat that aids in t he transfer of genetic material from one cell to another. Virus has the characteristics of both living and non-living and the exposure of the characteristics depends upon either it is outside or inside the living host. As it has both the characteristics it is called as obligatory intracellular parasites.

Virus is a non-living organism:

When considering my thought it is definitely a non-living organism because of many reasons,

• Virus cannot duplicate or replicate by itself with out the help from the contents of living cells.
• Though some of the organisms such as (eg. The chlamydiae ) are known as obligatory intracellular parasites, they have the capability of reproducing by cell division while virus don’t have the capability .
• Viruses are the assembly of many components that have been produced by the host cells.
• When virus parts are once assembled they will never continue to grow.
• The energy required for the manufacturing process of virus truly depends upon the host cell.
• Virus either contains DNA or RNA but never the both as incase of all other organisms.

These are the factors or characteristics that describe that virus are non-living cells.

http://www.wi.mit.edu/programs/ask/100206.html

http://www.uq.edu.au/vdu/BasicsVirusesAlive.htm