Class 11 · Biological Classification

Are Viruses Living or Non-Living — NEET Biology

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Organise a discussion in your class on the topic – Are viruses living or non-living?

NCERT Biology · Class 11 · Chapter 2 · Paragraph 69
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Which of the following statements correctly describe the reasons for the exclusion of viruses from Whittaker’s five kingdom classification? S1: Whittaker's five-kingdom classification system included viruses in a separate kingdom due to their unique mode of nutrition. S2: Viruses are considered acellular organisms that possess an inert crystalline structure outside a living cell. S3: Inside a host cell, viruses take over the cellular machinery to replicate themselves, making them obligate intracellular parasites. S4: The absence of a typical cellular organization and metabolic machinery is the primary reason why viruses were not classified under any kingdom by Whittaker. S5: Viruses exhibit an independent metabolism and reproduce autonomously outside of host cells.

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