Eli5-If a virus isn’t technically alive, I would assume it doesn’t have instinct. Where does it get its instructions/drive to know to infect host cells and multiply?

Question

Eli5-If a virus isn’t technically alive, I would assume it doesn’t have instinct. Where does it get its instructions/drive to know to infect host cells and multiply?

In: 7067

Answer 1

Same way our antibodies fight the virus, by reacting to stimuli. There are plenty examples of life reacting or achieving sometimes with knowing it or without instincts guiding it. Your blood doesn’t require knowledge or instincts to clot when you get a cut.