Compare and contrast the traits of viruses and bacteria. Why do most scientists argue that a virus is not considered a living thing? Explain your answer in 3–5 sentences.(4 points)

Answer 1

Viruses and bacteria differ fundamentally in their structure and characteristics. Bacteria are single-celled, prokaryotic organisms that can reproduce independently and carry out metabolic processes, while viruses are acellular entities that cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic functions without a host cell. Most scientists argue that viruses are not considered living things because they lack the cellular machinery necessary for growth, metabolism, and reproduction; they must hijack a host cell's biochemical processes to replicate. Consequently, viruses exist in a gray area between living and non-living entities, primarily due to their dependency on host organisms for their lifecycle.