A virus mutates, and therefore it has which of the following traits of living things?(1 point)
Responses
It grows and develops.
It grows and develops.
It uses energy.
It uses energy.
It is made of cells.
It is made of cells.
It evolves.
It evolves.
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It can evolve.
The virus mutates and evolves.
To answer this question, we need to understand the traits of living things and determine whether a virus possesses these traits. The traits of living things include:
1. Growth and development: Living things have the capacity to grow and develop, meaning they can increase in size and undergo changes over time. However, viruses do not exhibit growth and development on their own. They can only replicate and produce more viral particles when they infect a host cell. So, a virus does not have this trait of living things.
2. Use of energy: Living things require energy to carry out their metabolic processes. They obtain energy either by consuming other organisms or by conducting photosynthesis. However, viruses do not have their own metabolism and cannot generate or use energy. They rely entirely on host cells to provide the necessary energy for their replication. Therefore, a virus does not possess this trait.
3. Made of cells: All living things are composed of one or more cells, which are the basic structural and functional units of life. However, viruses are not made of cells. Instead, they consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses may also have an outer envelope made of lipids. As a result, viruses do not meet this criterion.
4. Evolution: Living things have the ability to evolve over time through genetic changes. This allows them to adapt to their environment and develop new traits. Viruses do evolve, as they can undergo mutations that can lead to changes in their genetic material. These mutations can occur during the replication process or as a result of external factors such as host immune response or antiviral treatments. Therefore, a virus possesses this trait of living things.
In conclusion, a virus does not possess the traits of growth and development, use of energy, or being made of cells. However, it does have the ability to evolve, which is one of the characteristics of living things.