Exploring the Nature of Viruses: A Biology Perspective

This assignment delves into the characteristics of viruses, exploring their structure, replication, and interaction with host cells. The assignment begins by defining viruses and highlighting their key features, such as their composition of nucleic acids and proteins. It then discusses the debate surrounding whether viruses are living or non-living entities, examining the arguments for both sides. The assignment emphasizes the role of host cells in viral replication and the importance of genetic material. It also provides examples of viruses and concludes by summarizing the complex nature of viruses and the challenges in classifying them. References from scientific journals are included to support the information provided.

VIRUS
INTRODUCTION
The word virus is extrapolated from a Latin word known as poison. It was initially fascinated
from its origin with various chromatic diseases like rabies, foot-and-mouth etc. (Villarreal, L,
2004)
DISCUSSION
The characteristics of life are as follows:
1. The living organisms are composed and possessed of cells.
2. Energy is required by the living organisms in order to carry out which will help in
producing which will further help the organization to sustain.
3. The living organisms have the capability to render on their own and the living organisms
can perform similarly as a truly living organism which impact the host cells in the most
profound way.
4. The living organisms have capability to raise.
5. The Living organisms have an assemblage of integrated organs, like in multicellular
organisms, different type of organs are present but unicellular organisms are composed
and possessed of various structures.
6. The genetic material is stored in the cells of living organisms.
VIRUSES
The viruses are defined as the parasites which are present on a boundary of life and the inert
matter. Virus is made up of the molecules of nucleic acid and proteins but they don’t have an
ability to render and spread on their own. The host cell provide abetment to them. When the
viruses replicate or render the new genes are being produced (Villarreal, L, 2004)
. If the produced gene is innovative enough then it gets embodied into the host cell’s genome and
becomes the eternal fragrance of that cell. The example of virus are- HIV/AIDS, Lunar
exploratory module (LEM), T4 bacteriophage, ATV (Acidianus-Tailed-Virus) etc.
VIRUS CONSIDERD AS NON- LIVING
If the virus depends on the host cell completely for energy which is needed for synthesis of
proteins, nucleic acid, transport, etc. then the bio molecular aspects would be parasitized and this
helps them to render. The virus can only render or replicate with the help of host cell’s body.
Therefore, the scientists stated that virus is a non- living parasite which gets energy from a living
metabolism. The virus is also known as a molecular entity preferably than cellular entity and
cannot metabolize of their own (Forterre, P, 2010). They lack in integrated organs and fails to
reach a complexity. Therefore, viruses are elusive host gene which are being degenerated into a
parasite and they are not able to display the properties of life outside the host cell’s metabolism.

VIRUS CONSIDERED AS A LIVING
It has been seen that viruses show genetic material and proteins in their cell. Also they have the
capability to render or replicate with the help of host cell’s body. The genetic material of virus is
made up of double- standard DNA. They have a propensity of acting like an intracellular obligate
parasite because of the replication machinery. (Forterre, P, 2010)
CONCLUSION
The viruses are complex in nature and cannot be easily defined as a living or non- living.
Therefore, some methods are used to classify them as a living or non-living.

REFERENCES
Villarreal, L, 2004, ‘Are VirusesAlive?’, Scientific American vol.291 pp. 100 ‐ 105
Forterre, P, 2010, ‘Defining Life:The Virus Viewpoint’, Orig.Life Evol Biosph, vol. 40 pp. 151‐160