Aarti Gupta
Last Activity: 9 Years ago
Virusesare microscopic particles consisting of single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA,wrapped up in a coating of protein called as capsid.They infect both eukaryotes (animals,fungi and plants) as well as prokaryotes(bacteria).
It has been argued extensively whether viruses are living organisms or not.Most virologists consider them non-living,because they do not meet all the criteria of the accepted definition of life.Although they have the genetic material but no machinery of their own to use it.They survive only as parasites inside a living cell.Outside of it ,they are like any other nonliving matter.They do not possess a cell membrane or metabolise on their own -which is characteristics of all living organisms.Viruses also lack the other properties of living things:--like they have no energy metabolism,they do not grow,they produce no waste products,and they do not respond to stimuli.So they aren’t considered as living things.Infact they are regarded as borderline between living and non-living.