why aren’t viruses “alive”?

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Hi everyone,

I’m not very knowledgeable about science, so I’m struggling to understand the notion that viruses aren’t “alive”, and the robot analogies people use. I understand that they don’t have some of the characteristics (cells, ability to reproduce), but my mind can’t wrap itself around the notion that they’re like objects. Can you please give some examples that could explain this in a way that is accessible to someone who isn’t very advanced in the subject?

Thanks

EDIT: wow thanks so much guys for so many amazing replies!!!

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26 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Here’s a simpler answer.

Every other single living thing does two things(with no exception):

1. All living things replicate in some way, whether it’s mammal reproduction, or highjacking another cell and forcing it to duplicate you, or lay an egg or whatever. As long as you’re passing down genetic material, #1 is covered.
2. All living things can convert an external source (ie food) into energy. With no exception. Viruses DO NOT convert an external source (food) into energy. A byproduct is that they also don’t produce waste, other than the carcass of the cell they obliterated.

That’s the exact thing that separates viruses from life, they don’t do #2. They don’t utilize any food/energy source, and metabolize it. They’re truly closer to nanobots that only have 1 directive. Replicate.

It truly is as simple as that.

Source: School of Hard Knocks. But real talk, that’s how my Biology Professor described it to me when I asked him to ELI5 years ago. That description stuck with me because of its simplicity.

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