Is it true that a virus is not a living being, but bacteria are?

Answer

Dear Beau,

That’s right. A virus in itself is “not alive” (no metabolism of its own), but it can reproduce itself by living organisms. A virus is basically a package containing information about the virus itself. It also contains information about how the virus can best reproduce itself and thus defend itself against the host’s defenses, for example.

A bacterium does have a metabolism, in which it absorbs and processes energy from the environment.

Kind regards,