A student claims that viruses are alive because they have genetic material and can reproduce. Is this student’s claim correct?(1 point)
No, the student's claim is not correct. While viruses do have genetic material and can reproduce, they cannot do so on their own. Viruses lack the essential characteristics of life, such as cellular structure and metabolism. They are considered to be non-living entities that require a host cell to reproduce and carry out their life cycle.
Cells Unit Test
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Question
A student claims that viruses are alive because they have genetic material and can reproduce. Is this student’s claim correct?(1 point)
Responses
Yes, viruses are alive because they have genetic material.
Yes, viruses are alive because they have genetic material.
No, viruses are not alive because they rely on a host organism to be able to reproduce.
No, viruses are not alive because they rely on a host organism to be able to reproduce.
Yes, viruses are alive because they can reproduce.
Yes, viruses are alive because they can reproduce.
No, viruses are not alive because they do not have genetic material nor can they reproduce.
The student's claim is not completely correct. While viruses do possess genetic material and can reproduce, they lack certain characteristics typically associated with living organisms. Viruses cannot carry out metabolic processes, grow, maintain homeostasis, or respond to stimuli independently. They are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on a host organism to replicate and carry out their life cycle. Therefore, viruses are generally not considered to be alive.
To determine if the student's claim is correct, we need to understand the characteristics and criteria that define living organisms.
Living organisms typically exhibit attributes such as the ability to grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, maintain homeostasis, and carry out metabolic processes. Now, let's examine the student's claim in light of these characteristics:
1. Genetic Material: It is true that viruses have genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA. They carry the instructions necessary to replicate and produce new virus particles.
2. Reproduction: While viruses can indeed reproduce, they require a host cell to carry out this process. Viruses cannot reproduce independently but rely on hijacking the cellular machinery of a host organism.
Considering these points, we can say that viruses do possess genetic material and have the capacity to reproduce, but they lack other fundamental characteristics of living organisms such as metabolism and the ability to respond to stimuli without the assistance of a host cell.
Based on the established criteria, viruses are generally considered "non-living" entities. However, this remains a topic of debate among scientists, and different opinions exist regarding the classification of viruses.