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RE: What is life?
In the genome of most viruses there are proteins coded which help them to e.g. get out of the host or protect their genome, so there are biologic functions but they are very minimalistic.
I think anybody with some knowledge about viruses and their interactions with the hosts would think viruses are a form of life.
Hmm, I have always heard the opposite when I studied microbiology; that viruses are not considered life due to the fact that they don't have a metabolism, or are able to reproduce without a host. But it's really up to each and everyone what they want to think of as life I suppose.
Interesting. Agree, not worthwhile to start a dispute on this :)