The VirusWhat is a virus?
Do you think it's living or nonliving?
Why?
The picture on the left just so happens to be a virus (which everyone is 7-1 should know by now). A virus is a small particle that needs a host cell to live in and reproduce. To answer the question if it is living or not. I would say no, I do not think it is living.
In our notes it said:
Not Considered Living
.a virus is not a bacteria, fungus, protist, plant or animal.
.they cannot carry out cellular functions
.A virus can not replicate without infecting cells and then using the organelles an enzymes of the cells of the host.
I think it is not living because WAY in the beginning of the year, we were talking about characteristics of living things.
Our notes then said:
Characteristics of Living Things
-Living things move, use energy, grow and develop, respond to a simulus, and reproduce.
Although a virus can reproduce and move, it still can not use energy, grow and develop, or resong to a simulus, or im pretty sure they dont. ?:(.
That is why I think that viruses are not living.
1 comment:
Allyson,
Your blog entry this week was excellent. I like how you integrated the class notes to help support your argument against viruses as living. You are correct they do not carry out cell functions or have organelles for that matter.
To answer your question they do respond to stimuli such as when they cling to a host cell and inject their DNA; however, that alone does not qualify a virus as a living thing. Modern cars can respond to stimuli in their environment but are definitely not living things.
I wish we had more time for the debate in class today. Maybe we can continue it on Monday if time permits.
Great Job on the blog!
Mr. Z
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