Viruses are considered as living things/non-living things?

Viruses are non-living when they are outside the host cell as they don't have any cellular machinery of their own. But when they are present inside the body of a host, they are living. They take over the host cell machinery to replicate themselves, killing the host. That's why they are considered to be living and non-living. 

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Viruses are not living things. Viruses are complicated assemblies of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, but on their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. Therefore, viruses are not living things.

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