Are bacteria living or what?

Question

Are bacteria living or what?

Answer 1

Yes.  Bacteria meet any definition of being alive.

Answer 2

Yes bacteria are alive, because they are:

1. Able to reproduce (check)

2. Able to respond to their external environment (check)

3. Able to maintain steady internal conditions under mild stress (homeostasis). (check)

4. Organized into one or more cells (check)

5. Able to metabolize energy for growth (check)

It is important to note that under this definition VIRUSES are not alive, because they can't do any of these things on their own (without infecting a host.)

As for the below answer, the debate goes on whether viruses are alive or not. As for me (a virologist) I classify them as non-living biological entities.  I realize the irony that in virology a biologist studies things that aren't alive, but it is the interaction with a living thing that lends viruses their life-like charachteristics. Furthermore, I consider the protist that causes Malaria alive because it is a plasmodium (a Eukaryotic organism with a nucleus, and organalles) and not a virus at all.

Answer 3

yes, Bacteria a living organisms.

the charistic of living this are:

Living things are made of cells.

Living things obtain and use energy.

Living things grow and develop.

Living things reproduce.

Living things respond to their environment.

Living things adapt to their environment.

and bacteria does all of them  

Answer 4

Bacteria are single-celled organisms that fit the criteria for life as stated above.  (Also add maintaining homeostasis and energy utilization), but I wouldn't be so quick to be down with the viruses.  

While they don't fit most criteria for life, it is NOT true that none of these criteria are met.  They can indeed adapt to their environment...their host IS their environment.  They do adapt in that they change genetically (over generations)  as certain genetic versions  are selected it their host.  A person infected with the AIDS virus will have several new strains (versions) of the virus developed from the original in no time.  And while they don't reproduce without their host, you can say they reproduce.  You wouldn't say malaria is not life because it requires a host to reproduce.  So, viruses may not be life, but the line is grayer than it may seem.