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by Anonymous on January 7th, 2008

Anonymous

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Why do we refer to viruses as “activated” or “inactivated” rather than “living” or “dead”?

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Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by Amorphous Blob on January 7th, 2008

    Amorphous Blob

    Viruses aren't really fully alive - they can't reproduce. They need the mechanism of a host cell to replicate themselves.

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  • by Smokin' Pope on January 16th, 2008

    Smokin' Pope

    there's a debate on whether to call viruses 'living'. generally, they are not considered since they don't meet the requirements of 'living'. however, some are remarkably large and complex and kinda push the envelope in terms of being alive. in general, you can't really kill them because they are not metabolically active. you inactivate them, which means you prevent them from infecting, or replicating or whatever.

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  • by aQuilo not akilo on January 13th, 2008

    aQuilo not akilo

    When they are "inactivated" they are not functioning as organisms. Viruses can switch between activated and inactivated. Organisms cannot switch between alive and dead (more than once).

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