Question

Living things share 8 characteristics (listed in Chapter 1 of your textbook on page 19). A living thing grows, undergoes metabolism, responds to its environment, reproduces, passes DNA to the next generation, maintains homeostasis, changes over time, and is made up of cells. A non-living thing may seem to do one or more of these things, but to be classified as living; all eight characteristics must be present. Sometimes, you may see something that seems alive but is not. Though you can’t see it, you have likely experienced it; one of those things is a virus.Answer BOTH of the following questions:Using all 8 of the characteristics that define life, indicate which one(s) viruses have and which one(s) they do not, and explain each difference.With these results, present an argument that a virus is a living thing. Then, present the opposite argument that viruses are not alive.

Answer 1

Answer: A virus is a living thing and non living thing

Explanation:A virus is posses a genetically material known as DNA and it becomes a living thing when it comes in contact with a living host. A virus in a living host disrupt the genetic material thereby replicating or mutating several clones of its DNA and controlling all living activity of the host.

2. Outside the body of a host, a virus is non living because it forms crystals outside the body of a living host.