Question

5.Movement is considered as one of the important criterion for being alive. But a plant which is not visibly growing
and some animals that breathe without visible movements are still alive.
a) Why are visible movements, alone as a criterion, not considered sufficient for being alive?
b) On the basis of molecular movements, explain whether viruses are alive or dead.

Answer 1

Dear Student, a) Human beings and other animals show visible movements but there are some organisms which are sessile (sessile hydra) but are alive. So, we cannot considered only visible movements alone as a criteria for being alive. b)Molecular movement is shown by cell of an organism for its day to day activities.Virus becomes active only when they move into the body of host organism, when they are outside they do not show any molecular movement so they are considered dead. Regards