The concept of life is a complicated question on Earth, where organisms obtain different characteristics that make them animatedly existent. Scientists have searched for the bottom line of what can be considered alive and whether it can be contributed to viruses. Some like Brown believe that they cannot be living organisms, while others like Bhella argue that their features are enough to call them alive (Brown and Bhella). I cannot help to agree with the latter view that viruses can be classified as living creatures.
Recognizing the complexity of life as a concept, biologists elaborate on the viruses’ status aside from the theological and philosophical discourses, but scientific standpoint. Brown claims that they cannot be living organisms due to their inability to replicate autonomously and survive without a host (Brown and Bhella). It is the essential qualities of something alive, yet many other scientists consider them secondary. Virions, co-called “dead viruses,” are inactive forms as they are outside enabling conditions, which underlines their lack of self-sufficiency. However, according to Bhella, no organisms can be entirely independent of the environment, and life at its core is interdependent (Brown and Bhella). The fact that viruses evolved with other creatures is enough to state that they are alive. Modeling mentions that viroids with their virus-like structure may have influenced the organization of “early life-like elements, something very close to the origin of life” (673). So, these organisms may have even affected life on Earth in the earlier stages. As parasites, viruses are selfish replicators that “drive the evolution of complexity at more than one level” (Koonin and Starokadomskyy 132). Life relies on cooperation and coordination, making viruses its essential part and living organisms.
All in all, viruses can be considered alive from the biological perspective that regards evolution as more significant than independent replication. They appeared on Earth long ago, impacted other living organisms, and continue to exist today. The issue is multifaceted, so new arguments and reasoning will arise, supporting Brown’s view rather than Bella’s one and vice versa. At the moment, the available evidence is indicative of the viruses’ status as living organisms.
Works Cited
Brown, Nigel, and David Bhella. “Are Viruses Alive?” Microbiology Society, 2016, Web.
Koonin, Eugene, and Petro Starokadomskyy. “Are Viruses Alive? The Replicator Paradigm Sheds Decisive Light on an Old but Misguided Question.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, vol. 59, 2016, pp. 125–134. Science Direct.
Moelling, Karin. “Viruses More Friends than Foes.” Electroanalysis, vol. 32, no. 4, 2020, pp. 669-673. Wiley Online Library.