Question

The simple question of whether or not viruses are alive, has defied a simple answer because it raises the fundamental issue: What defines life?

Answer 1

Yes in fact viruses are alive.

Answer 2

Living organisms shows particular characteristics of life that distinguishes them from the non-living organism. The living organisms has the ability to show growth, reproduction, metabolism and the homeostasis.

Viruses are alive organism that they acts as living organism in some specific conditions only. Viruses are not true living organism if they are outside the host environment. Once they enter in the body of a host, they grow and multiply their number. Thus, virus has changed the definition of life and raises a fundamental issue.