Scientists’ understanding of viruses has advanced greatly in the last fifty years. Which statements give evidence to support the classification of viruses as nonliving?

Question

Responses

Viruses must infect living host cells in order to reproduce.
Viruses must infect living host cells in order to reproduce.

Viruses often mutate to evade the immune system.
Viruses often mutate to evade the immune system.

Viruses are made up of proteins, nucleic acids, and sometimes lipids.
Viruses are made up of proteins, nucleic acids, and sometimes lipids.

Viruses have their own genetic material.
Viruses have their own genetic material.

Answer 1

The statement that provides evidence to support the classification of viruses as nonliving is:

"Viruses must infect living host cells in order to reproduce."

This characteristic distinguishes viruses from living organisms, which can reproduce independently. Other statements, while they describe aspects of viruses, do not serve as evidence for their nonliving classification. For example, the ability to mutate or the presence of genetic material do not inherently indicate whether an organism is living or nonliving.