Non-cellular life is life that exists without cells. This term usually is applied to terrestrial life, and the classification of viruses as lifeforms. In relation to the domains of life, the rare terms acytota or aphanobionta are used as the (super)kingdom / (super)domain / (super)empire name. The corresponding cellular life name would be cytota. Both now being subdivisions of Earthly life, or biota/vitae.

The issue of non-cellular life has come to the fore with the discovery that the mimivirus can make its own proteins. This increased the number of proponents of a virus domain of life. However the contents of that domain is debated, as to be viruses, or just nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses like mimivirus.

See also

• Alternative biochemistry

Life | Biology | Scientific classification