Oh, they’re can spend long periods of time being inert, and then resume activity when conditions change to be more favorable?
… Like a tardigrade? Or a seed?
Oh, they cannot reproduce themselves on their own or within their own species?
… Like a obligate parasite wasp? Or a plant species that relies on a pollinator?
Oh, they do not reach a stable equilibrium within their ecosystem?
… Like humans?
I’ll give you that viruses never metabolize and are not capable of homeostasis… but they do not lack ‘any’ of the characteristics of life, they have some big ones.
They reproduce, evolve, and respond to stimuli.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 1 month ago
True! Here’s a little additional information since the north is in virus season.
A virus is a protein wrapped in a protective fatty lipid. Heat will melt the fat, then break down the protein. Viruses last longer on surfaces and clothing in the cold season, increasing probability of transmission. A virus can remain intact on a shopping cart handle for up to 24 hours.
You can also rapidly break down the fatty lipid using isopropyl alcohol, or break down the protein directly using hydrogen peroxide.
DarkCloud@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Bats use heat to fly off their viruses, they get pretty bad ones, but when they’re flying Bats get really hot. So it burns them off.
Also, some viruses have evolved into us and ended up serving functions in the human bawdy.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Yup. Up to 8% of the human genome is comprised of ancient viruses.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/17366
DeathsEmbrace@lemm.ee 1 month ago
As an example we have reverse transcriptase that is derived from viruses.
TIN@feddit.uk 1 month ago
There was a Kurzegadt video about the virome recently
Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
Another example; mammals probably developed pregnancy using an Autoimmune virus’ genes in the placenta to prevent the fetus from being destroyed by the immune system.
scytale@lemm.ee 1 month ago
That’s why I always carry a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol as my hand sanitizer. It’s also great that my local grocery store has sanitary wipes right beside the carts so you can wipe down the handle before using it.
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
the swedish department of health says the opposite though, that you have to wash your hands with soap to affect at least some viruses.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
The WHO says the same. Soap is a surfactant, so the viruses will be mechanically removed from the skin, and flushed away by the water.
My comment was meant to be in regards to sanitizing surfaces. I’m sorry if that was unclear.