Viruses are often referred to as non-living infectious particles as they lack many characteristics of living organisms like cellular structure. They do not have the ability to carry out reproduction and metabolism without a host cell.
True or False and why?
a
False - viruses are able to reproduce and use energy without a host cell.
b
True - if a living organism requires a cellular structure, even if they can reproduce - they are by definition non-living.
c
False - viruses do have a clear cellular structure, including a cell membrane called an envelope.
d
False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
The correct answer is:
d) False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
Viruses do not have cellular structures like bacteria do. They are acellular particles that consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid. Viruses are not able to carry out reproduction and metabolism on their own. They need a host cell to replicate and produce more virus particles. Despite not having cellular structures, viruses are considered infectious particles and are distinct from living organisms like bacteria.
d. False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
Viruses are often regarded as non-living infectious particles because they lack many characteristics of living organisms. They do not have cellular structures like a cell membrane or organelles. Bacteria, on the other hand, are single-celled organisms that possess cellular structures. Though they are microscopic, bacteria have a clear cellular structure that includes a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and DNA. Bacteria are considered living organisms because they can carry out crucial life processes such as reproduction and metabolism independently, unlike viruses.