Viruses, Living or Non-Living? - Discussion Forum - The Massassi Temple Forums Archive

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Viruses, Living or Non-Living?

2006-03-09, 5:02 PM #1

tofu

(Not an) Administrator

Posts: 2,867

I say non-living.

2006-03-09, 5:03 PM #2

Jay

Hey guys, did you hear about Something Awful?

Posts: 8,804

Review the characteristics of living organisms.

2006-03-09, 5:05 PM #3

Michael MacFarlane

Unwitting troll accomplice

Posts: 8,272

I say non-living, and SCIENCE! backs me up.

Fire, on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a living organism.

If you think the waiters are rude, you should see the manager.

2006-03-09, 5:12 PM #4

money•bie

••ps, I did it again

Posts: 2,735

Define "living" and I can conclusively prove if it's living or not.

2006-03-09, 5:13 PM #5

Sarn_Cadrill

Mr. Know-Alot

Posts: 7,470

I have no idea what this is even about, so I voted bible thumper.

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Lassev: I guess there was something captivating in savagery, because I liked it.

2006-03-09, 5:17 PM #6

Jay

Hey guys, did you hear about Something Awful?

Posts: 8,804

I even researched it for those who don't know:

Quote:

Viruses are non-living particles that can only replicate when an organism reproduces the virulent RNA or DNA.

Wikilink

(To a biologist that anaylizes living things, here is the characteristics of life)

2006-03-09, 5:17 PM #7

Petmc.

wi.us

Posts: 2,217

It's been scientifically proven that viruses are non-living.

I learned that last month in Bio

"Oh my god. That just made me want to start cutting" - Aglar
"Why do people from ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA keep asking about CATS?" - Steven, 4/1/2009

2006-03-09, 5:20 PM #8

Space_Bandit

You stole my heart

Posts: 1,173

[QUOTE=Michael MacFarlane]

Fire, on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a living organism.[/QUOTE]

It has cells? :rolleyes:

"DON'T TASE ME BRO!" lol

2006-03-09, 6:08 PM #9

tofu

(Not an) Administrator

Posts: 2,867

Originally posted by petmc20:

It's been scientifically proven that viruses are non-living.

I learned that last month in Bio

It's still a huge debate whether viruses are living or non-living though.

I believe they're non-living because they cannot reproduce on their own.

2006-03-09, 6:10 PM #10

Roach

Registered User

Posts: 5,275

And they don't use energy...

omnia mea mecum porto

2006-03-09, 6:31 PM #11

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

erm, they're organic.

therefore living.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 6:35 PM #12

Shintock

Balls of steel.

Posts: 7,146

Originally posted by Ruthven:

erm, they're organic.

So is plastic. And oil. And vinegar.

2006-03-09, 6:37 PM #13

Roach

Registered User

Posts: 5,275

...Ruth, no. Organic can just mean a compound based on carbon. Not all organic things are living.

omnia mea mecum porto

2006-03-09, 6:37 PM #14

Space_Bandit

You stole my heart

Posts: 1,173

Originally posted by Shintock:

So is plastic.

So is Michael Jackson....

"DON'T TASE ME BRO!" lol

2006-03-09, 6:45 PM #15

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

by organic I mean it has the abilty to act of its own accord, move, eat, fart, etc.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 6:47 PM #16

Petmc.

wi.us

Posts: 2,217

Originally posted by Ruthven:

by organic I mean it has the abilty to act of its own accord, move, eat, fart, etc.

AIDS can't fart buddy :p

"Oh my god. That just made me want to start cutting" - Aglar
"Why do people from ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA keep asking about CATS?" - Steven, 4/1/2009

2006-03-09, 6:49 PM #17

Roach

Registered User

Posts: 5,275

Originally posted by Ruthven:

by organic I mean it has the abilty to act of its own accord, move, eat, fart, etc.

No, no they can't.

omnia mea mecum porto

2006-03-09, 6:50 PM #18

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

a shame, it would be much funnier to live with.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 6:51 PM #19

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

ok fine, screw it, I'm a physicist, not a biology hoe.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 6:53 PM #20

tinny

Looking for: One heart.

Posts: 1,736

Humans are pretty wack at classifying and creating categories, so I picked Bible thumper.

"The only crime I'm guilty of is love [of china]"
- Ruthven
me clan me mod

2006-03-09, 7:35 PM #21

Darth_Revan

For-eh-VUR

Posts: 506

Viruses are not made of cells, they do not grow, they cannot reproduce on their own, and they can be crystallized safely -- a process that kills living organisms. Therefore, viruses are not alive.

"It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions. You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener."
"Rationality is the recognition of the fact that nothing can alter the truth and nothing can take precedence over that act of perceiving it."

2006-03-09, 7:37 PM #22

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

well i never.

You learn something new everyday

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 7:43 PM #23

ECHOMAN

"Has it won yet?"

Posts: 17,215

Well, why do viruses exist? Did they evolve?

SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
-----------------------------@%

2006-03-09, 7:45 PM #24

Avp2MattJa

If the world didnt suck, everyone would fall off

Posts: 303

but viruses can mutate ( did i spell that right ?), so they can do something.

Matt

2006-03-09, 7:47 PM #25

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

viruses can KILL!

Can something non-living kill?

hmm?

yeh, probably

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2006-03-09, 7:47 PM #26

kyle90

Laser Lover

Posts: 8,450

Viruses are cool. But no, they aren't living, in the traditional definition anyways.

A better discussion would be "Pluto: Planet or KBO?"

Stuff

2006-03-09, 7:54 PM #27

tofu

(Not an) Administrator

Posts: 2,867

Originally posted by kyle90:

Viruses are cool. But no, they aren't living, in the traditional definition anyways.

A better discussion would be "Pluto: Planet or KBO?"

Make your own poll **********.

2006-03-09, 8:22 PM #28

Roach

Registered User

Posts: 5,275

Originally posted by Avp2MattJa:

but viruses can mutate ( did i spell that right ?), so they can do something.

Mostly because of how weak DNA and RNA is. Think of the old punch cards used to program computers, make a few thousand copies and see how many are different from the original.

omnia mea mecum porto

2006-03-09, 8:25 PM #29

kyle90

Laser Lover

Posts: 8,450

Originally posted by tofu:

Make your own poll **********.

Okay.

Stuff

2006-03-09, 8:41 PM #30

djwguitarman

Registered User

Posts: 2,186

I'm living.

On a Swedish chainsaw: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."

2006-03-09, 8:49 PM #31

MuffinArsonist

Pyromaniac Pastry

Posts: 98

Since when could computer code be considered alive? :p

011011110110110101100111

2006-03-09, 8:51 PM #32

kyle90

Laser Lover

Posts: 8,450

Since the Matrix sequels came out, probably.

Stuff

2006-03-09, 10:23 PM #33

Dormouse

Doesn't know that mice use holes.

Posts: 2,517

[QUOTE=Michael MacFarlane]Fire, on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a living organism.[/QUOTE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissipative_system

Also, I can kill you with my brain.

2006-03-09, 10:44 PM #34

Freelancer

Peelancer

Posts: 15,012

Viruses are like little nanobots programmed to wage biological warfare.

Maybe aliens unleashed them on us.

"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009

2006-03-09, 10:52 PM #35

Vin

No Longer Homeless!
Fancy Pants

Posts: 9,843

Originally posted by Freelancer:

Maybe aliens unleashed them on us.

You may actually by right. It's just as probable that alien life is more like viruses than it is like the rest of life on earth. I think viruses show that there's not only one type of possible living creature.

I vote yes, because I disagree with the current definition of life. Viruses are evolving, reproducing entities. Just because they aren't built the same way as other earth life doesn't mean they're not alive.

2006-03-09, 11:06 PM #36

Pagewizard_YKS

Redeemed Scoundrel

Posts: 5,971

Viruses are not living, but they are not completely non-living, either.

I feel that the fact that they are self replicating with the assistance of a host (as opposed to something like a chair or table lamp which obviously is not self replicating and not alive) means that they are alive to some extent.

2006-03-09, 11:08 PM #37

tofu

(Not an) Administrator

Posts: 2,867

I find it interesting there are so many living votes.

2006-03-09, 11:43 PM #38

BobTheMasher

Of what, we don't want to know.y

Posts: 4,243

I'm pretty sure the question is intended, and would be better phrased, as:

Should the definition of life be changed to include viruses?

I think, probably yes. I agree with pagewizard.

Warhead[97]

2006-03-09, 11:54 PM #39

Roach

Registered User

Posts: 5,275

So would we then classify nanomachines and new self-replicating robots as living?

omnia mea mecum porto

2006-03-10, 12:00 AM #40

Vin

No Longer Homeless!
Fancy Pants

Posts: 9,843

Not if we have dna/rna as a requirement too.