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For generations, we have divided all physical matter into a rigid binary: things that are living and things that are non-living. Yet, viruses completely break this rule. Because they lack independent metabolism but replicate rapidly inside a host, they do not cleanly fit into either group. To fix this long-standing puzzle, this paper introduces Condicivitalmor (matter that exists in a conditional or potential life-state) as a distinct third category of matter. This group includes matter that remains completely inert on its own but wakes up biologically when it encounters the right environment. Alongside this concept, I propose a simple Functional Tri-Group Taxonomy to classify viruses and sub-viral agents based on how complex they are and how they interact with host cells. This framework offers a practical way forward for textbook writers, evolutionary biologists, and researchers studying the origins of life.
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Mohd Maqbool Lone (2026) studied this question.
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