Why are viruses considered to be a link between living and nonliving organisms?
Why are Viruses Considered Links Between Living and Non-Living?
Viruses have characteristics of both living and non-living organisms.
Characters of living organisms:
1. They have nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), which is their genetic material and hence can replicate
2. They can multiply in the living cells of host
3. They can attack specific hosts
Characters of non-living organisms:
1. They can be crystallised
2. They are devoid of cell walls, cell membranes, and other cell organelles like ribosomes, mitochondria, etc.
3. They remain as inert material outside their hosts
Because of their ability to possess both living and non-living characters, they are considered a link between the two.
– Written By Debdoot Chaudhuri