Why Are Viruses Living Organisms

A virus- a complex microscopic organism that possesses the ability to replicate inside the cells of a host. For centuries scientists have debated the topic of whether viruses are living organisms- or not. Viruses have been left in a “gray area”, becoming ignored in the study of evolution by scientists. When not in contact with a host, viruses tend to stray from the characteristics that define life. Characteristics such as the ability to respond to their environment, lack of cells, and the ability to reproduce.

Viruses contain great potential once inside of a host. They thrive, replicating and adapting to their new environment. They infect the cell and contaminate nearby cells by intercepting their genetic code. They attach their protein tails to a receptor in the cell wall and insert their genetic material, (DNA or RNA) therefore infecting the cell. Viruses repeat this process over and over, continually evolving and spreading throughout their host. But when left without a host, a virus is completely incapable of performing this process. The virus is stationary, isolate. Scientists believe that unless an organism is able to perform these actions entirely on its own, it cannot be considered a living thing. The virus is often referred to as a parasite, effective and capable when introduced to a host, but incapable and mostly useless when …show more content…
During interphase, a cell takes in nutrients in order to grow, and divide its chromosomes. While in the cell division phase, the nucleus divides by mitosis,where the separated nuclei establish separate cells in a process called cytokinesis. Unlike cells, viruses attach themselves to their host and infect them with their own genetic code, spreading and “reproducing” within them. Without the presence of a host a virus is completely unable to reproduce and create new cells, deterring it from possessing one of the characteristics that is used to define