Is a Virus alive?

[Chaosolous]

Not a computer virus, obviously.

Are viruses alive or no?

They meet some criteria for life but also... don't.

They can evolve, reproduce, contain genetic material, are able to interact with host cells for their needs and they've developed structures like certain protein coats and lipid envelopes.

Yet at the same time; they have no cellular structure at all, they have absolutely no metabolic process (they don't use fuel or produce waste). Not to mention they require a host cell and even then they're only reactive to anything if they're within a cell.

What do you think? Are viruses living or not?

[tom tomorrow]

They can't reproduce without the use of a host, which is what keeps them from being considered alive. But I think they are. Our definitions are just off. We don't even really know what it means to be alive.

[Nülliflower]

if it can die it's alive.

[vkobe]

Originally posted by mf tom:

They can't reproduce without the use of a host, which is what keeps them from being considered alive. But I think they are. Our definitions are just off. We don't even really know what it means to be alive.

pretty sure we cant reproduce either without the help of another person

[Vince ✟]

Google says they are more akin to androids than humans if we were to compare.

[Jeff]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

Not a computer virus, obviously.

Are viruses alive or no?

They meet some criteria for life but also... don't.

They can evolve, reproduce, contain genetic material, are able to interact with host cells for their needs and they've developed structures like certain protein coats and lipid envelopes.

Yet at the same time; they have no cellular structure at all, they have absolutely no metabolic process (they don't use fuel or produce waste). Not to mention they require a host cell and even then they're only reactive to anything if they're within a cell.

What do you think? Are viruses living or not?

They're alive, just not within the confines of our limited understanding of living. This is one of those roadblocks science will never be able to get past until scientists more earnestly explore the metaphysical. For one, we need to come to some consensus as to what consciousness is, and explore it beyond just spit-balling.

[Original Cast Recording]

Bad proteins.

[Candyy]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

Not a computer virus, obviously.

Are viruses alive or no?

They meet some criteria for life but also... don't.

They can evolve, reproduce, contain genetic material, are able to interact with host cells for their needs and they've developed structures like certain protein coats and lipid envelopes.

Yet at the same time; they have no cellular structure at all, they have absolutely no metabolic process (they don't use fuel or produce waste). Not to mention they require a host cell and even then they're only reactive to anything if they're within a cell.

What do you think? Are viruses living or not?

They are alive, they are just not considered living beings becuase they the requirements to be a living being is nutrición, relación and reproducción... They have to do all these 3 functions...

[Pieshaman]

when a virus enters a host cell, it becomes alive. it's nucleic acid changes and it will reproduces itself with use of metabolism of host cell.

[Stormer]

Originally posted by LilBlkCloud:

They're alive, just not within the confines of our limited understanding of living. This is one of those roadblocks science will never be able to get past until scientists more earnestly explore the metaphysical. For one, we need to come to some consensus as to what consciousness is, and explore it beyond just spit-balling.

your horrifically overthinking this, the word "life/alive" is just restricted to cell based stuff in scientific fields to make describing it less of a headache (and consciousness isnt even a requirement so im not sure why your bringing that up)

if they didnt then people would have to start debating if destructive forces like fire are alive because they also meet all of the other requirements

[Ni-Neith]

Originally posted by Pieshaman:

when a virus enters a host cell, it becomes alive. it's nucleic acid changes and it will reproduces itself with use of metabolism of host cell.

This is similar to the fact that when a living being enters the surrounding world, it uses this biosystem for survival.

[Dr. Weird]

Viruses aren't alive but apparently they are woke.

[DoomsDay]

the definition of being alive, the definition of virus.

towards most humans, being alive means to eat sleep, reproduce , and fulfill some civil duty.
being dead, means lying still, body become host for other life form, the thought of maintaining his original form is no more.

virus, doesn't have thoughts, they reproduce via other host,
thoughts and language made human methodical and sometimes easy to control by others.

form doesn't really matter towards the original life in ancient times, if it does, earth wont have so many species. these creature they adapt to their environment through trial and errors,and took on the form that is can endure the environment.

for the moment, humans are stuck in this form, because of all the trial and errors, to wait on nature to tell them otherwise.

for me, I am for now stuck in this form,with some words, and some skin bones, I kinda like humans and their method and language, I have been looking for the best thing to help me when I am stuck in this form. or, maybe I am so stuck here, and I cant think of a better thing.

to wait on nature to tell me otherwise about forms, when it certainly wont speak human language directly to me. and when I have all these other voices telling me to do things. maybe I already went against nature.

[Hobbit XIII]

Virus's like you said evolve.
Take any virus now, and look at it in a few million years.

I consider them alive and never considered them otherwise.

[Reddari]

The word virus means toxin. They are not alive. All that stuff about them being infectious is cooked up junk science BS to drug people up and restrict and control them and also do experiments on them and gather their data.

Viruses are mostly just genetic fragments and treated as waste by the body. If you put waste in your body then the body will try to expell in and it will be experienced as disease.

If you treat viruses as alive and real infectious agents then that is not only giving legal permission for someone to enter your space by taking up that role, but also giving them instructions on how to do it.

[steven1mac]

I would say yes, but they are almost the ultimatum parasite for lack of a better definition. If viruses didn't exist, cellular life would evolve a lot slower.