Viruses exhibit characteristics of both living and non-living entities. Which of the following properties of viruses MOST strongly supports the argument AGAINST their classification as living organisms?
Presence of genetic material (DNA or RNA)
Ability to evolve and adapt to their environment
Inability to reproduce independently outside a host cell
Specific interaction with host cells
Related Questions
Prions, infectious protein particles, can induce conformational changes in normal proteins, leading to diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. While exhibiting self-propagation, prions lack genetic material. Do prions challenge the conventional definition of living organisms, and why?
No, because they are composed of organic molecules.
Yes, because they lack heritable genetic material yet exhibit a form of 'reproduction'.
No, because they interact with living organisms.
Yes, because they cause disease.
Imagine a synthetic life form created in a lab that uses a novel information storage molecule distinct from DNA or RNA, but still exhibits heritability and undergoes evolution. Which of the following aspects of the current definition of life would MOST require reconsideration in light of this discovery?
The requirement for cellular structure
The dependence on carbon-based chemistry
The specific molecular basis of heredity
The ability to respond to environmental stimuli
