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
Viruses are like toxins, or poison. The only difference between a poison and a virus is that when cells are ‘poisoned’ by a virus, they make more virus.
Obviously this is a simplification/exaggeration.
But why would you class a virus as alive?
– they can’t move or interact with thier environment
– they don’t need or use energy, food etc
– they don’t make things, or metabolise anything
– they can’t reproduce
The only thing remotely alive about them is that they are made of ‘biological’ material like DNA, RNA, and proteins.
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