Yes, they need energy to replicate. They get it by using host resources, especially host ATP (and host enzymes). They don’t generate their own energy because they are not alive, they are much simpler than cells.

This is an old video. I have an upgraded microphone in use for more recent videos. Sadly, there is nothing I can do about the sound quality of older videos.

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You can post some comments here, but I may not see them before your report is due. The main key is that bacteria are alive, and much more complex, while viruses are simple and not alive. You can see more at this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/icWag9dly62amGQ.html There are other things too, like how certain viruses can have RNA for a genome. Good luck!

@@BiologyProfessor Thank you so much!!! I wrote in my report the following: In order to classify something as a living entity, it must possess five basic criteria. These criteria are: it is made of cells, it reproduces, it responds to environmental stimuli, it maintains homeostasis, and it must generate energy. The absence of one of these qualities means that it is not considered a living organism. Bacteria satisfy all the criteria. They are made up of a single cell that divides to reproduce and maintains homeostasis in response to changes in their environment with the energy it created. Viruses, on the other hand, are different. When focused on these criteria, we notice that viruses do not meet them. Then I start to explain each criterion and how viruses fail to meet them but after watching the video you recommended, I saw that you had listed 9 criteria. Are mine enough? And about the energy thing I wrote the following: Viruses are also too tiny and simple to generate or utilize their own energy; instead, they get it by using host resources, especially host ATP. Viruses only require energy when they replicate themselves, and they don’t require energy at all while they are outside of a host cell. Because of this characteristic, the pathogen fails to fulfil another characteristic of life; a living entity must generate energy. Is it good? I'm exited to hear your opinion on this :)

Viruses, as previously stated, do not have cells. This means they lack nuclei, organelles, and cytoplasm. As a result, they have no way of modifying their internal environment or maintaining homeostasis in response to external stimuli. This indicates that viruses are unable to meet the third and fourth requirements; a live entity must respond to environmental stimuli and maintain homeostasis. Is this correct as well? (I'm sorry if I'm asking too many things)

I think your points are all correct. It’s true that my video lists 9 things, and you could add some of them to your paper if you wanted to make it even stronger, like the one about growing and developing. Some of the others in my video are characteristics that viruses DO meet, like evolving. Many viruses also use DNA. They also use the same universal genetic code (necessary so host cell ribosomes and tRNA can translate viral proteins). In other words, viruses DO meet some characteristics of life, but not all. Your paper focuses mainly on those ways in which viruses do NOT have the qualities of living things. This may be fine, depending on what your teacher is looking for.

I’ll add that viruses DO replicate/reproduce, they just have to enter a host cell to do so.

Welcome

DNA viruses have DNA for genetic material. RNA viruses have RNA for genetic material.

Hahaha, I never thought about it, but yeah, I can see the similarity with an icosahedral viral capsid. ;)