If a virus isn't alive, it's an interesting case: non- life that is (almost certainly) descended from living organisms. As the ultimate stripped- down parasite, the virus is a striking illustration of the "selfish gene"- DNA that exists purely to replicate more DNA like itself.

We've gone through what is sentience/ sapience. Now it's what do we mean by life. Please don't complicate the question of life, because I'd love to get one.