Seminar: Viruses
Are viruses alive? Seems like a simple question, right? The scientific community has been split on this topic for years, with both camps presenting some credible arguments for its case. This unit you are going to explore both sides of this debate, and see if you can finally put the argument to rest!
Before coming to Seminar, explore:
It's Alive? (2008). Scientific American, 299(4), 18.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/detail/detail?sid=07a7b5ca-58e0-4809-b5da-9babd349c77b%40sessionmgr4002&vid=2&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=bth&AN=34236085
Come to Seminar prepared to discuss the following questions:
1. What is life? Describe attributes of life that make it distinctive from other parts of the Earth system, such as minerals, water, or light.
2. What is a virus, what qualities do viruses possess that are characteristics of life (from above question), what qualities set them apart from the classic definitions of life?
3. Is a virus a living entity? Why or why not? Support your answer with ideas from the previous questions.
4. If you define a virus as a living entity, what are the limits of life? Discuss what qualities must be present for something to be considered alive.
5. If a virus is not defined as living, what is it? How does it reproduce? How have viruses evolved through time?