What Makes Something Alive?

Welcome to the first post of the Ed McMann Death Science blog. Today we are discussing what makes something alive. Some scientist, who consider viruses living, give up even try to define the definition, but its actually very clear. Life reproduces on its own. What I mean by reproducing on its own is that life doesn't need any living hosts to reproduce. This does not apply to viruses (smallpox, AIDS, coldsores, influenza, cold). A virus is actually a non-living giant (tiny compared even to bacteria) organic molecular protein structure, with DNA pack inside. For most of their existence, viruses just float around in water, blood, digestive juices and don't do much. But when a virus comes in contact with bacteria or body cells, they burrow in with protein spines. From there they inject their DNA. As we will discuss further in this blog, DNA is the code for every living thing on Earth. The virus DNA intercepts the cell's own DNA, and mixes in with it. The new genes inside the cell tell it to produce new protein parts for the virus. Slowly the virus parts assemble and the cell explodes, sending the new viruses everywhere. Those new viruses will attack even more cells, which will produce more new viruses and so on. Eventually the viruses will cause an infection, making you sick or even killing you. Remember, no one is safe from viruses. From amoebas, to your dog, to your mother, to you.