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:
False - viruses do not have the ability to carry out reproduction and metabolism without a host cell. Unlike bacteria which are considered living organisms, viruses do not have a cellular structure of their own and rely on host cells to replicate and carry out their metabolic functions.