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Why do people tend to call viruses micro-organisms if they are not living things?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
viruses are very very small entities and can only be seen through an electron microscope that is why they are called microorganisms
viruses can be termed as living because they can reproduce to form new copies of themselves
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoViruses are considered micro-organisms, but here's the thing.
These are the characteristics of living things:
* Reproduce
* Obtain and use energy
* Grow, develop, and die
* Respond to the environment
The difference is that viruses cannot reproduce on their own, because they cannot use their own DNA - they use living cells to make more DNA and build more of themselves.
Thus, viruses are not alive in the scientific sense of the word.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBecause they can only be seen through an electron microscope, as they are so small so are classed as a micro-organism. Also they have some way of copying themselves even though they can only reproduce in living things... :)
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoMicro- Very Small Organisms- Living Things Microorganisms are very small living things (usually microscopic).
Wiki User
∙ 13y agowe called virus as a microorganisms as we cannot se them through naked eyes.They reproduce only inside the cells of the host organism which may be a bacterium ,plant or animal
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What are very tiny living things?
It depends on what you call a "living thing"!Some people would say viruses, but others argue that viruses are too simple to be classed as organisms. This would make bacteria the smallest living things. All scientists agree that bacteria have cells and that viruses do not.Some of the smallest bacteria belong to the genus Rickettsia.
Do viruses need oxygen to live?
Yes. Viruses are living things too.
How can you tell the difference between bacteria and viruses?
The difference is that viruses are smaller than bacteria. One more major difference is that bacteria are living things whereas viruses are non living things.
Why can't we classify a virus as a living thing?
Viruses are not living things. Viruses are complicated assemblies of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, but on their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. Therefore, viruses are not living things.
What other things that are living organism?
Everything that are living are living organisms. Every other things are not considered to be a living organism e.g. viruses.
Viruses and bacteria are which type of living thing?
Bacteria and viruses are small and can only be seen through a microscope. The small living things are microorganisms or microbes. Some people do not think viruses are living things because they are acellular particles. They consider them to be an organic structure that interacts with living organisms.
Why do people tend to call viruses micro-organisms?
Most people think of viruses as microorganisms because they are very small and, like all living things, contain genes.
What are very tiny living things?
It depends on what you call a "living thing"!Some people would say viruses, but others argue that viruses are too simple to be classed as organisms. This would make bacteria the smallest living things. All scientists agree that bacteria have cells and that viruses do not.Some of the smallest bacteria belong to the genus Rickettsia.
Viruses depend on living things for what?
Viruses depend on living cells because they reproduce inside of them.
How viruses unlike living things?
110
Do viruses need oxygen to live?
Yes. Viruses are living things too.
How can you tell the difference between bacteria and viruses?
The difference is that viruses are smaller than bacteria. One more major difference is that bacteria are living things whereas viruses are non living things.
Why can't we classify a virus as a living thing?
Viruses are not living things. Viruses are complicated assemblies of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, but on their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. Therefore, viruses are not living things.
Do viruses reproduce with live or dead?
viruses are nonliving things. but they need living things to reproduces. so live
Why scientist believe that virus are not living organisms?
viruses do not grow, and viruses do not respond to changes in their environment. Therefore, viruses are not living organisms. All living things reproduce, but Viruses need living cells to reproduce because Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves.
What other things that are living organism?
Everything that are living are living organisms. Every other things are not considered to be a living organism e.g. viruses.
What do you call the very small living things that must be magnified to be seen?
microorganisms
