IUBio

Is a virus alive? -Reply

Ted Snazelle Snazelle at MC.EDU
Sun Feb 2 12:41:09 EST 1997


A virus is 'alive' only if you consider the ability to replicate (reproduce)
itself the sole definition of 'alive.'  A better definition of a virus is that it is
an infectious macromolecule which can only replicate itself inside a living
cell.

Ted Snazelle
Department of Biological Sciences
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS 39058




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