Final answer:
Viruses show two living traits: they possess genetic material and the ability to evolve and reproduce within a host. However, their acellularity and reliance on host cells for reproduction exclude them from being classified as living organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Viruses are unique biological entities that exhibit two key characteristics of living organisms: A) they have genetic material and E) they reproduce. Viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, which is crucial for the inheritance of traits and evolution. Although viruses can evolve, they are not considered fully living because they are acellular and require a host to reproduce.
Unlike living cells, viruses cannot increase in size, lack the machinery to eliminate waste, and do not maintain homeostasis independently. Controversies exist in the scientific community with some researchers suggesting that certain giant viruses might challenge the traditional views, as they contain more genes than some cellular life forms and exhibit more complex behaviors. However, the consensus is that viruses are not alive because they lack most features that define living organisms, and they can only replicate within a host cell.
Additionally, a virus's ability to evolve presents challenges such as the rapid adaption of the influenza virus, which necessitates yearly vaccine updates. In conclusion, the two characteristics of living things that viruses exhibit are genetic material and the capability to evolve and reproduce, albeit only inside a host cell.