Viruses can cause a host of different illnesses, from the common cold to influenza, to hand-foot-and-mouth disease, to Ebola. Viruses are fascinating little particles. Scientists have debated whether viruses are living or non-living organisms for decades! Scientists have a list of criteria used to determine if an organism is living or non-living. One of the criteria is that living things have cells. Well, viruses do NOT have cells. They have a protein coat that protects their genetic material. Another criterion is that living things reproduce. Viruses do not actually have the tools to rep...