What defines living organisms from non-living? A living organism has a structure, reaction to stimuli, reproduction, growth, adaptation, and homeostasis. However, there is a gray area between living and non-living that is called virus. A virus is a microscopic parasite that is much smaller than bacteria. It contains nucleic acids, DNA or RNA that are surrounded by a protein coat (Vidyasagar, 2016). This essay discusses viruses regarding two characteristics of life: reproduction and adaptation.
Viruses cannot replicate alone, so they use various components of a host cell to make copies of themselves. Without the host cell, viruses are unable to replicate and even survive for a long period (Vidyasagar, 2016). It can be considered as a living organism, as it provides its genetic material to it copies and makes up new generations. However, viruses cannot sustain themselves and are not capable for independent replication, hence, it is not a living organism.
Another characteristic of life is the ability to adapt to the surrounding conditions. Adaptation consists of characteristics needed for the survival and reproduction of a living organism. Viruses can adapt to their host through various mechanisms and use its metabolism for their adaptation (Simmonds, 2019). Even if the host itself is evolving or changing, the virus can also adapt to the changes, as such, it is difficult to kill the viruses.
To conclude, viruses are on the boundaries of the living and non-living area. They have a genetic material, however, still are not considered to be living organisms since they cannot replicate independently. Viruses need the host cells to activate and sustain themselves. Nevertheless, they are good in adaptation to the changes in the host organisms, so that pass a new genetic code to their new generations, keeping them resistant from extinction.
References
Simmonds, P. (2019). Reply to ‘Evolutionary stasis of viruses?’Nature Reviews Microbiology.
Vidyasagar, A. (2016). What Are Viruses? Livescience.Com.