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!!!
In: 29
I think one of the hardest things to comprehend is that, despite not being alive, it can evolve. We usually think of evolution as something that applies only to living organisms, to help them survive as a species.
But evolution can happen with random chance. In fact, that’s kind of the definition as different genes change outcomes which changed based on chance.
Viruses tend to have a lot of mutations, and some of these mutations will result in producing more of itself. It’s the shotgun effect: throw enough things at a cell, eventually something will get through and reproduce.
Look up prions, too, if you really want a bizarre non-living/alive-ish protein.
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