Comments on: The Structure of a Giant Virus http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/2009/04/30/the-structure-of-a-giant-virus/ The latest news about microbiology Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:34:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: AJ Cann http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/2009/04/30/the-structure-of-a-giant-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-1243 AJ Cann Sat, 02 May 2009 06:10:42 +0000 http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/?p=2133#comment-1243 That's pretty much it. Viruses are not capable of independent existence without a host to support them. Since that also applies to a few species of bacteria, we add a few extras, such as the ability to make proteins and generate their own energy (which viruses don't have). That’s pretty much it. Viruses are not capable of independent existence without a host to support them. Since that also applies to a few species of bacteria, we add a few extras, such as the ability to make proteins and generate their own energy (which viruses don’t have).

]]> By: Eileen http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/2009/04/30/the-structure-of-a-giant-virus/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 Eileen Fri, 01 May 2009 23:39:39 +0000 http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/?p=2133#comment-1239 Oh, I think I finally see--please confirm if I have this right. In order to be considered "alive" an organism has to be able to live and reproduce on its own. But because viruses cannot exist outside of their host cells (at least for very long), they are considered non-living? (Or, are they at some intermediate stage between "living" and non-living?" --I'm having trouble seeing them as non-living such as I would see a rock as non-living. Am I looking at this worng?) Eileen Oh, I think I finally see–please confirm if I have this right. In order to be considered “alive” an organism has to be able to live and reproduce on its own. But because viruses cannot exist outside of their host cells (at least for very long), they are considered non-living? (Or, are they at some intermediate stage between “living” and non-living?” –I’m having trouble seeing them as non-living such as I would see a rock as non-living. Am I looking at this worng?)

Eileen

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