Question

Scientific researchers discovered agents that behaved like bacteria causing diseases such as rabies and hoof-and-mouth, but were much smaller. At this time it became the general view that viruses were biologically "alive." This changed in 1935 when the tobacco mosaic virus was crystallized and scientists demonstrated that the particles lacked any mechanisms necessary for metabolic function. It was determined that viruses consisted of a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein shell and the scientific view changed: viruses are complex biochemical mechanisms but not alive. When not in contact with a host, the virus remains dormant. During this time there are no biological activities occurring and the virus is nothing more than a static organic particle. In this state viruses can remain for extended periods of time, waiting to come into contact with the appropriate host. When in contact with a host, it becomes active, reacts to its environment and/or host and directs its efforts toward self-replication. The viral goal now is to produce more viruses to attack host cells.
According to the passage all BUT ONE is a reason to classify viruses as living. That is they

Answer 1

According to the passage all but one is a reason to classify viruses as living which is that they lack mechanisms for metabolic function and is denoted as option D.

What is a Living organism?

This is referred to something which exhibits the presence of life and are able to transfer genetic traits from the parent to offspring. Living organisms are also able to perform certain types of activities for it to be referred to as being living.

Example of the activities which are performed by living things include the following below:

• Movement

• Respiration

• Excretion

• Reproduction etc.

Virus is regarded as a living thing because they are capable of protein synthesis and contain a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA. They also have mechanisms for metabolic function which is therefore the reason why option D was chosen as the most appropriate choice.

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The options are

A)are capable of protein synthesis.

B)contain a nucleic acid, DNA or RNA.

C)response to changes in the environment.

D)lack mechanisms for metabolic function.