Cantr II Discussion Forum

I was having a conversation with a friend about germs and such, and we got on the topic of viruses and whether or not they are forms of life. The discussion that ensued was very interesting, and I was wondering what you guys think.

The criteria defined for life contradicts some behaviors and attributes of viruses, but they clearly seem like life forms to me. But, I'm no virologist.

Viruses are NOT lifeform... they have no 'life' they do not eat... the do not metabolize, they do not have cells.... they may be a portion of what life is created from... but a part does not make a whole... they are made up of DNA and RNA and a bit of protien... but that does not define life

They are not life because they are dependant on other living cells to reproduce. They satisfy all the requirements needed to be considered living, except that they are not independant.

Nixit wrote:They are not life because they are dependant on other living cells to reproduce. They satisfy all the requirements needed to be considered living, except that they are not independant.

Not all ...but many...

Wikipedia

It has been argued extensively whether viruses are living organisms. They are considered non-living by the majority of virologists as they do not meet all the criteria of the generally accepted definition of life. Among other factors, viruses do not possess a cell membrane or metabolise on their own. A definitive answer is still elusive due to the fact that some organisms considered to be living exhibit characteristics of both living and non-living particles, as viruses do.

I recall.. in microbiology.. the instructor drew a diagram of a virus on the overhead..and I remember her comment..."Now doesn't that scare you to death?"

See, that's the deciding factor for me: I can't look at a diagram, or an image of a virus and say that it is not a form of life. It has DNA or RNA, so therefore, it is some type of living thing. It has no cell structure, but it sure looks like it's alive to me.

This is, of course, my opinion. As it has not officially been determined whether or not viruses should be considered life.

I think if the criteria for life is rewritten to include viruses, then it will be much easier to replicate life in a laboratory, which has been impossible so far. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad, but maybe viruses should have a classification of their own. If they already do, then I'm just ignorant to it, I suppose. I'd love to hear anything anyone has to say on the topic.

Jack Dudeman wrote:See, that's the deciding factor for me: I can't look at a diagram, or an image of a virus and say that it is not a form of life. It has DNA or RNA, so therefore, it is some type of living thing. It has no cell structure, but it sure looks like it's alive to me.

This is, of course, my opinion. As it has not officially been determined whether or not viruses should be considered life.

I think if the criteria for life is rewritten to include viruses, then it will be much easier to replicate life in a laboratory, which has been impossible so far. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad, but maybe viruses should have a classification of their own. If they already do, then I'm just ignorant to it, I suppose. I'd love to hear anything anyone has to say on the topic.

Aren't they classified as... viruses?

It's interesting, but viruses remind me of Oobleck.

Idea excellent, it agree with you.

Mykey wrote:They reproduce. They got nucleic acids. Sure, why not?
They may be very primitive, but my standards are low;)

Let's hope they don't get too low..

Reproduction seals it for me...life form.

But they don't reproduce with their own species. They don't self-proprogate. They don't require any form of nutrition. They're bits and pieces of life's building blocks (DNA, RNA, amino acid chains) that mess up actual living beings. If anything, they're anti-life.

So no, not alive. But not as unalive as a rock. I vote for hidden option C: Semi-alive.

I wasn't aware biology was based on opinion polls.

I think, that you are mistaken. I can prove it. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.

I'd say they are life forms indeed. As opposed to death forms. Although some of them cause death.

They are not minerals so they must be eather animals, vegstibles, or imaginary.

In my book they are non-living organic matter.