Final answer:
Viruses cannot be classified as living things because they cannot reproduce on their own, lack typical characteristics of living organisms, and are not made up of cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Viruses cannot be classified as living things for several reasons. First, they are unable to reproduce on their own. Instead, they rely on infecting host cells and using the host cell's machinery to reproduce.
Second, viruses do not display typical characteristics of living organisms, such as metabolism or growth. They are essentially packets of genetic material enclosed in a protein coat.
Lastly, viruses are not considered to be made up of cells, which is a fundamental characteristic of living organisms. Instead, they are considered to be particles.
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