Question

are viruses alive? the scientific debate continues. viruses exhibit some characteristics of life, but others are missing. the most obvious reason why scientists still refer to viruses as non - living is that they:
a. do not change over time
b. do not contain any genetic material
c. are much smaller than anything alive
d. are not composed of one or more cells

Explanation:

• Option A: Viruses can change over time through mutation, so this is incorrect.
• Option B: Viruses do contain genetic material (either DNA or RNA), so this is incorrect.
• Option C: Size is not the defining characteristic of being alive or non - living. There are very small living organisms (e.g., some bacteria), so this is incorrect.
• Option D: One of the fundamental characteristics of living organisms is that they are composed of cells. Viruses are not composed of cells. They are acellular entities that need a host cell to carry out life - like processes such as replication.

Answer:

D. are not composed of one or more cells