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
True - if a living organism requires a cellular structure, even if they can reproduce - they are by definition non-living.
b
False - viruses are able to reproduce and use energy without a host cell.
c
False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
d
False - viruses do have a clear cellular structure, including a cell membrane called an envelope.
c
False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
The answer is c - False. Viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the characteristics of living organisms and how viruses fit into this classification. Living organisms typically have cellular structure, the ability to reproduce, metabolic processes, the ability to respond to stimuli, and the capacity for growth and development.
Viruses, on the other hand, lack cellular structure and cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic processes on their own. They can only replicate and carry out their life cycle by infecting a host cell. Essentially, viruses are genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat and sometimes surrounded by a lipid envelope, but they are not considered living organisms because they do not fulfill all the requirements of living organisms.
Option a - True: This statement is incorrect because viruses cannot be considered living organisms, even if they have the ability to reproduce. The lack of cellular structure is a key characteristic of non-living particles.
Option b - False: This statement is incorrect because viruses require a host cell to reproduce and cannot use energy without a host cell. They are dependent on the metabolic machinery of the host cell.
Option c - False: This is the correct answer. Viruses and bacteria are both considered living organisms. Although bacteria lack a nuclear membrane and other cell organelles, they have a cellular structure and can carry out metabolic processes like reproduction and energy production.
Option d - False: Viruses do not have a clear cellular structure or a cell membrane. They have a protein coat surrounding their genetic material, but they do not have a complete cellular structure like bacteria or other living organisms.
In conclusion, viruses are considered non-living infectious particles because they lack cellular structure and cannot carry out reproduction and metabolic processes without a host cell.
c
False - viruses, like bacteria, do not have a cellular structure and yet, bacteria are considered living organisms.
Viruses are considered non-living infectious particles because they lack many characteristics of living organisms, including a cellular structure. Bacteria, on the other hand, are single-celled organisms and possess a cellular structure, which is why they are considered living.