Characteristics of Living Things (50 points) Living things share 8 characteristi
ID: 150155 • Letter: C
Question
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.
Explanation / Answer
virus is not made of cells the lack cell membane , organelles etc.they do not have metabolism
viruses respond to environment only when they come in contact with host cell.
virus cannot maintain homeostasis .
virus change overtime on replication.they even show mutations.
virus possess genetic material and can evolve inside the host cell but not on their on own.
the have the ability to pass dna to next generation and reproduce but only in host cell not on their own.
virus a living thing because they share traits with humans - they hae genetic material , can pass the genetic material and have ability to evolve within host cell.
non living because - is not made of cell lacks mambrane , ribosomes , cytoplasm etc .has no metabolism , they cannot replicate on their own as depend on host to synthesize protein and replicate., do not grow, do not respire.