Characteristics Of Living Things 50 Points

Characteristics Of Living Things 50 Pointsliving Things Share 8 Char

Characteristics of Living Things (50 points) Living things share 8 characteristics (listed in Chapter 1 of your textbook on page 19). A living thing grows, undergoes metabolism, responds to its environment, reproduces, passes DNA to the next generation, maintains homeostasis, changes over time, and is made up of cells. A non-living thing may seem to do one or more of these things, but to be classified as living; all eight characteristics must be present. Sometimes, you may see something that seems alive but is not. Though you can’t see it, you have likely experienced it; one of those things is a virus.

Answer BOTH of the following questions: Using all 8 of the characteristics that define life, indicate which one(s) viruses have and which one(s) they do not, and explain each difference. With these results, present an argument that a virus is a living thing. Then, present the opposite argument that viruses are not alive. You can fill out a table like this (though this is not required): Review the following videos to understand what viruses are and how they work: Flu Attack! How a Virus Invades Your Body What is a Virus? How do Viruses Work ? Reading these discussions may help you to form your arguments on the status of viruses: Are Viruses Alive? Are Viruses Alive? Although Viruses Challenge Our Concept of What "Living" Means, They Are Vital Members of the Web of Life Follow these guidelines for your paper: Utilize at least 1 credible source to support the arguments presented in the paper. Make sure you cite appropriately within your paper, and list the reference(s) in APA format on your Reference page. Your paper should be 1–2 pages in length, not counting the Title page and Reference page.

Paper For Above instruction

The debate over whether viruses are considered living organisms hinges on the eight characteristics that define life: growth, metabolism, response to the environment, reproduction, passing DNA to the next generation, maintaining homeostasis, changing over time, and being composed of cells. Viruses exhibit some of these traits but not all, leading to ongoing controversy regarding their classification as living entities.

Firstly, viruses do reproduce, but only within a host cell. They cannot reproduce independently outside of a host, which distinguishes them from true living organisms that can reproduce autonomously. This partial ability to reproduce depends entirely on hijacking a host cell’s reproductive mechanisms, which complicates their classification. In terms of passing DNA, viruses carry genetic material—either DNA or RNA—which they pass on to their progeny during replication, aligning with one of the key characteristics of life.

Viruses also respond to the environment in specific ways; they can attach to host cells via specific receptors, indicating a form of response. However, they do not respond to environmental stimuli in the same dynamic way that living organisms do; their responses are limited to chemical interactions. Viruses do not grow or undergo metabolism independently; they are metabolically inert outside host cells, lacking the cellular machinery necessary for energy transformation and growth.

Regarding homeostasis, viruses do not maintain internal stability; their biochemical stability depends on their interactions within host cells. They do change over time through mutation, which is a biological process driven by genetic variation. As entities, viruses are not made up of cells but are composed of genetic material encased in a protein coat called a capsid, which challenges the criterion of cellular composition.

Based on these observations, one might argue that viruses are not living. They do not independently grow, metabolize, respond robustly to stimuli, or maintain homeostasis, which are core aspects of life. Instead, they function as biological entities that require a host to carry out vital processes, positioning them closer to complex chemical particles rather than autonomous life forms.

Conversely, some argue that viruses should be considered alive because they possess genetic material capable of evolving and passing on traits—attributes of living organisms. Their ability to reproduce within host cells, coupled with genetic variation, aligns with the principles of biological life. Additionally, viruses' responses to specific stimuli—like attachment to host cells—and their capacity for mutation to adapt to their environment resemble adaptive behaviors seen in living organisms.

In conclusion, whether viruses are classified as living depends largely on which characteristics one emphasizes. While they fulfill certain criteria such as genetic material transmission and reproduction (within a host), they lack independent metabolic activity, growth, and homeostasis. As such, viruses occupy a gray area that challenges traditional definitions of life, highlighting the importance of a nuanced understanding of biological classification. Recognizing their role as entities capable of evolution and reproduction within hosts underscores their significance in ecological and evolutionary contexts, even if they do not meet all criteria of life independently.

References

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