Outside of a host cell viruses do not fit any of the definitions of life:
- they do not seek or consume sources of nutrients or energy
- they do not have a metabolism
- they do not grow
In fact the only place they fit the definition is reproduction, and that is only through the machinery they commandeer from the cells they infect.
To me viruses clearly do not fit the definition of life. But fire... that is hard to exclude from the definition without some mental contortions. I am not advocating that fire is alive for any useful reason, but it is hard to exclude from the definition.
In fact the only place they fit the definition is reproduction, and that is only through the machinery they commandeer from the cells they infect.
To me viruses clearly do not fit the definition of life. But fire... that is hard to exclude from the definition without some mental contortions. I am not advocating that fire is alive for any useful reason, but it is hard to exclude from the definition.