Biology / Unit 9 Bio 1917 short lesson, about 20 seconds
"A Virus Is a Living Organism"
Captions available
The idea
Calling a virus a living organism overstates an unsettled question — by the cellular-life criteria most courses teach, a virus fails several tests.
In practice
A virion has no metabolism, makes no ATP, and cannot reproduce without hijacking a host cell's machinery.
Where people slip
This entry states one basis for denying viral life — Bio 1919 gives the equally strong basis for granting it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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