Challenging the Limits of Cellular Life The most striking feature of Sukunaarchaeum mirabile is its genome reduction. While viruses are often considered non-living because they cannot perform ...

"Many scientists would agree that cellular structure, the ability to replicate, and the ability to metabolize are key features of life. Viruses typically lack these features," he said.

Darren Orf Mon, June 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM PDT 3 min read This Creature Exists Between Life and Not-Life Jose A. Bernat Bacete - Getty Images ...

Scientists Discovered a New Creature That Exists Between Life and Not-Life Because they rely on hosts for a majority of functions, viruses aren’t considered alive.