Bacteria, Viruses, and Protists

Virus Basics

Are viruses living organisms?

All living things have around six character-istics—they adapt to their environment, have a cell makeup, have metabolic processes help them obtain and use energy, they move in response to their environment, they grow and develop, and they reproduce.

Viruses are kind of bizarre, alien creatures when you think about it—almost like robots. They are not really alive because they can’t reproduce or grow without a host.