Why Are Viruses Important?

Start with a some DNA, or RNA if you are so inclined, mix in a simple matrix, fold the mixture into a protein coat, and pour into a plasma membrane. Could this be the recipe for elementary life? Viruses are one of the simplest forms of organized organic material to arise in evolution. They are infamously the most efficient at reproducing while simultaneously eliminating competition which are two of the most fundamental characteristics of life. Despite these remarkable abilities, most biologists are in agreement that these simple structures are in no way living. I would disagree with this statement.
When first approaching this problem, many would first try and define life. This only serves to further complicate the issue. One of the simplest
One of these arguments involve a state known as a virion. A virion is a dormant state that the virus is in when there are no cells around to utilize. During this state, the virion does not grow or reproduce, but remains in equilibrium until their is a cell that it can infect. While many use this as a reason for why viruses are nonliving, I would say just the opposite. The fact that viruses become dormant virions when there are no cells nearby demonstrates an ability to recognize conditions which allow them to reproduce and grow so that they can take advantage of them. The second argument involves a virus’s metabolic processes. Viruses are unable to metabolize on their own and instead use the mitochondria of cells to do it for them. The weakness of this argument lies in the cells, not the viruses. When examining the organelles of cells, microbiologists have discovered that the mitochondria contain their own set of genetic DNA. This has been explained using the concept of coevolution. In this process, two organisms respond to one another's strength and weaknesses in order to further their ability to survive and reproduce. It is theorized that mitochondria were originally separate organisms that evolved with cells in order to benefit each other. The mitochondria produce energy for the cell and the cell reproduces itself and the mitochondria. This concept can also be applied to viruses, but in terms of a parasitic relationship. Viruses evolved without the ability to metabolize because, as long as there are cells, it is not necessary for their