Viruses are exceptions to the cell theory, but they have some characteristics of living things. What is one of these characteristics?
a
They contain chlorophyll.
b
They contain genetic material.
c
They are made up of many specialized cells.
d
They reproduce by mitosis.
b
They contain genetic material.
b
They contain genetic material.
The correct answer is option b) They contain genetic material.
To arrive at this answer, let's break down the question and analyze the options. The question states that viruses are exceptions to the cell theory but possess some characteristics of living things. The cell theory states that all living organisms are composed of cells, and cells are the basic units of life. However, viruses are not considered cells because they lack certain features, such as a cell membrane and organelles.
Option a) "They contain chlorophyll" does not apply to viruses since chlorophyll is a pigment found in chloroplasts of plants and algae, which viruses do not possess.
Option c) "They are made up of many specialized cells" is also not applicable as viruses are not multi-cellular organisms but rather acellular entities.
Option d) "They reproduce by mitosis" is incorrect as viruses are unable to carry out mitosis, which is a process of cell division in eukaryotic cells.
Option b) "They contain genetic material" is the correct answer. Viruses carry genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, which allows them to infect host cells and reproduce within them by hijacking the host's cellular machinery. This genetic material carries the instructions for viral replication and protein synthesis.
To summarize, viruses possess genetic material but do not meet all the criteria for being classified as living cells, making them exceptions to the cell theory.