Red blood cells are alive in all sense but reproduction. The lost nuclei and DNA of the red blood cell, when these are extruded, are dead in the water. This tells us what is really alive in the cell. The DNA is virtual while the cell body is actual in terms of life. This is because of the molecular capacitance of the cell body compared to the virtual templates of the DNA.
In terms of virus, they are also virtual, and need an actual cell to be alive, just like the DNA. The red blood cells lost their own machinery for reproduction and therefore canot help virus either.
If you begin at the DNA, the cell needs to add energy to make RNA on the DNA. It then needs to add energy to make protein from RNA. Based on an energy hierarchy, the DNA is at lowest potential. The natural flow of energy is from higher to lower, which implies from the living part of the cell to the DNA. This allows cells to react to the environment in real time.
When red blood cells lose their DNA, they also lose their lowest potential energy well. This keeps the cell at higher potential. This plays a role in their important job exchanging oxygen and CO2. It might help keep the iron in hemoglobin in an excited state.
In terms of virus, they are also virtual, and need an actual cell to be alive, just like the DNA. The red blood cells lost their own machinery for reproduction and therefore canot help virus either.
If you begin at the DNA, the cell needs to add energy to make RNA on the DNA. It then needs to add energy to make protein from RNA. Based on an energy hierarchy, the DNA is at lowest potential. The natural flow of energy is from higher to lower, which implies from the living part of the cell to the DNA. This allows cells to react to the environment in real time.
When red blood cells lose their DNA, they also lose their lowest potential energy well. This keeps the cell at higher potential. This plays a role in their important job exchanging oxygen and CO2. It might help keep the iron in hemoglobin in an excited state.