Is a Virus an Organism?
Words: 427 1090Viruses, ubiquitous in nature and notorious for causing diseases, pose a fundamental question in biology: are they organisms? This debate hinges on their unique biological characteristics and the traditional definitions of what constitutes life. At its core, an organism is typically defined as a living entity capable of independent existence and reproduction. Viruses, however, blur this definition. They lack the essential machinery found in cells, such as ribosomes and mitochondria, necessary for metabolic processes and independent life functions. Unlike cells, […]
