Question

Viruses are alive inside cell (when they use cell machinery) in the text it says there is a controversory on whether they are alive. SO are they ALIVE or just a curropt gene problem like cancer?

Answer 1

Viruses are intermediate between living and nonliving entities.
They resemble non-living objects in the following ways:
1. Lacking protoplast
2. Ability to get crystallized.
3. Inability to live independent of a living cell
4. High specific gravity which is found only in non-living objects
5. Absence of respiration
6. Absence of energy storing system
7. Absence of growth and division
Viruses resemble living beings in the following ways:
1. Being formed of organic macromolecules which occur only in living beings.
2. Presence of genetic material
3. Ability to multiply or reproduce
4. Infectivity and host specificity