Why are viruses considered to be nonliving?

Viruses are responsible for some of the most dangerous and deadly diseases including influenza, ebola, rabies and smallpox.

Despite their potential to kill, these potent pathogens are in fact considered to be non-living.

Reasons:

1. Viruses don't have any cells, like living organisms do. They have protein coats but no organelles or other cellular machinery. Just a little DNA packet.

2. Viruses can't produce new proteins, DNA, or RNA and therefore are unable to reproduce on their own. They need infected cells' machinery to make all of these and produce new virons.

3. Viruses have no metabolic activity. They don't use or convert energy and have no ongoing interior processes. They're basically just inert structures until they impact a potential host cell.