41. A group calling itself "Virus Alive!" believes that viruses are living organisms. They have petitioned the scientific community to include viruses in the biological classification system. You are a scientist assigned to explain to this group that, although they share many characteristics of living organisms, viruses are NOT alive. You are instructed to be considerate of the group's position and discuss the characteristics of living organisims that are similar to the characteristics of viruses. However, you must then make the case that these similarities do not make a virus a living organism. Write your speech to "Virus Alive!" in two to three well-developed paragraphs.

Need help with this
-MC

Read these sites carefully.

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/yellowstone/viruslive.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1747414/are_viruses_alive_do_they_meet_the.html?cat=58

http://www.uq.edu.au/vdu/BasicsVirusesAlive.htm

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=are-viruses-alive-2004

Dear members of "Virus Alive!", I appreciate your belief that viruses are living organisms and your eagerness to include them in the biological classification system. It is essential to acknowledge the similarities between viruses and living organisms, as they can indeed exhibit certain characteristics associated with life. However, there are distinct differences that prevent viruses from being classified as living organisms.

Firstly, let us consider the shared characteristics. Like living organisms, viruses have a genetic material, either DNA or RNA, which is capable of encoding information. They also possess the ability to evolve over time through genetic mutations, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. Additionally, viruses are capable of reproducing and multiply within host cells, similar to how living organisms reproduce.

However, there are three fundamental aspects that highlight the difference between viruses and living organisms. Firstly, viruses are unable to carry out metabolism independently, which is a defining feature of living organisms. They rely entirely on host cells to provide the necessary resources and machinery for their replication. Secondly, viruses lack cellular structure, such as a cell membrane or organelles, which are universal among all living organisms. Lastly, viruses lack the ability to maintain homeostasis, the self-regulation of a stable internal environment, which is vital for the survival of living organisms.

In conclusion, while viruses share certain characteristics with living organisms, their inability to independently carry out metabolism, lack of cellular structure, and inability to maintain homeostasis differentiate them from being classified as living organisms. However, it is important to continue studying viruses as they play a significant role in infectious diseases and have intriguing evolutionary and genetic features.

Dear members of "Virus Alive!", I appreciate your interest and passion for understanding the nature of viruses and their place in the biological classification system. It is commendable that you've highlighted the similarities that viruses share with living organisms. However, I am here today to explain why viruses are not considered alive based on some fundamental characteristics of living organisms.

One of the key characteristics of living organisms is the ability to independently carry out essential life processes, such as metabolism and reproduction. While viruses can replicate within a host cell by hijacking the cellular machinery, they lack the capability to reproduce on their own. They are completely dependent on a host organism for their survival and replication.

Additionally, living organisms maintain homeostasis, a process that allows them to regulate their internal environment and adapt to external changes. Viruses, on the other hand, lack the necessary structures and mechanisms to maintain homeostasis. They do not have a cellular structure, organelles, or the ability to regulate their internal environment.

Furthermore, living organisms possess a genetic material, either DNA or RNA, which carries the necessary instructions for life. While viruses do possess genetic material, it is important to note that they exist in a dormant state when they are not infecting host cells. Without a host, viruses do not exhibit any signs of life or biological activity.

In conclusion, although viruses may possess certain characteristics that resemble those of living organisms, their dependency on a host for replication, lack of homeostasis, and inability to independently carry out life processes clearly differentiate them from living organisms. It is important to recognize and understand the distinctions between viruses and living organisms to ensure accurate scientific classification and the advancement of biological knowledge.