Eli5: what exactly is a virus and are viruses alive?
In: 130
Edit: see u/iwasmurderhornets comment [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/11uezbk/comment/jcsaeex/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3), which clearly shows that viruses are NOT alive; they rely on a cell’s mechanisms, and that cell is the actual living sub-unit.
Life = Requires protein to build cells
Protein = DNA + RNA
Virus = RNA
Virus + Host cell = RNA + DNA = Virus becomes alive, Host cell dies
Virus replicates, Host cells die
So Virus IMV is neither dead nor alive, till it meets an Host that ‘accepts’ it
[Unexplainable](https://megaphone.link/VMP8592865804) did a podcast on this last week. The Meaning of Life.
It comes down to what your definition of “alive” is.
Viruses replicate but need another cell to do it for them. Red blood cells would be considered alive, but have no DNA to replicate themselves. It’s gets complicated in the details.
[Unexplainable](https://megaphone.link/VMP8592865804) did a podcast on this last week. The Meaning of Life.
It comes down to what your definition of “alive” is.
Viruses replicate but need another cell to do it for them. Red blood cells would be considered alive, but have no DNA to replicate themselves. It’s gets complicated in the details.
[Unexplainable](https://megaphone.link/VMP8592865804) did a podcast on this last week. The Meaning of Life.
It comes down to what your definition of “alive” is.
Viruses replicate but need another cell to do it for them. Red blood cells would be considered alive, but have no DNA to replicate themselves. It’s gets complicated in the details.
Simply put its like a little case made of proteins that contains DNA or RNA (if you don’t know what RNA is think of it like simpler dna cut in half so there’s on on strand)
Virus will enter a cell and inject their DNA/RNA into the nucleus of the cell (think of it like a control centre where the cells DNA is normally reproduced). The virus pretty much forces the cell to use the DNA/RNA it gave it and replicate that, creating more of the virus instead of using its own dna to make more cells.
Simply put its like a little case made of proteins that contains DNA or RNA (if you don’t know what RNA is think of it like simpler dna cut in half so there’s on on strand)
Virus will enter a cell and inject their DNA/RNA into the nucleus of the cell (think of it like a control centre where the cells DNA is normally reproduced). The virus pretty much forces the cell to use the DNA/RNA it gave it and replicate that, creating more of the virus instead of using its own dna to make more cells.
Simply put its like a little case made of proteins that contains DNA or RNA (if you don’t know what RNA is think of it like simpler dna cut in half so there’s on on strand)
Virus will enter a cell and inject their DNA/RNA into the nucleus of the cell (think of it like a control centre where the cells DNA is normally reproduced). The virus pretty much forces the cell to use the DNA/RNA it gave it and replicate that, creating more of the virus instead of using its own dna to make more cells.
what’s really going to bake your noodle later on is whether a prion is alive… A self-replicating protein that can kill you. It can survive disinfectants, it can survive boiling, it can survive on scapels and spread to patients via surgery.
what’s really going to bake your noodle later on is whether a prion is alive… A self-replicating protein that can kill you. It can survive disinfectants, it can survive boiling, it can survive on scapels and spread to patients via surgery.
what’s really going to bake your noodle later on is whether a prion is alive… A self-replicating protein that can kill you. It can survive disinfectants, it can survive boiling, it can survive on scapels and spread to patients via surgery.
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