Kingdom and Domain System.

A brief overview of the taxonomic kingdom system and its successor the domain system, used in the classification of species

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Science & Technology

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[glazinq]

Where do viruses fit in? If I'm not mistaken a virus is not considered an organism And yet it's purpose seems to be to replicate itself just like all other living creatures. Can you please explain this?

[cadutcher]

@glazinq Simply put: kingdoms and domains are part of the hierarchy of life. Viruses are not technically alive since they cannot sustain themselves or reproduce by themselves (they need some host) and do not have an internal environment

[nicibdanza]

I love you for this video!

[femfemfem90]

@glazinq

the problem with viruses is that they can only reproduce by means of of a host. In other words the formation of a virus is very similar to the formation of a normal protein that a cell needs. Once a virus grabs hold of a cell (or bacteria in case of a bacteriophage) it alters the DNA of the host by morphing the cells DNA with its own. With that alteration the cell creates the components of the virus and secrets them once they are all together. A virus doesn't replicate, its made.