Which of the following is a characteristic feature of viruses?a)Cell w...
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic activities without a host cell.
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Which of the following is a characteristic feature of viruses?a)Cell w...
Characteristics of Viruses:
Ability to reproduce outside of host cells:
Viruses are unique infectious agents that cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic processes outside of a host cell. They lack the necessary cellular machinery to replicate on their own and rely on the host cell's machinery to replicate and produce more virus particles. This characteristic distinguishes viruses from other organisms like bacteria, which can reproduce independently.
Cell wall:
Viruses do not have a cell wall like bacteria or plant cells. Instead, they consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses may also have an outer envelope derived from the host cell's membrane.
Independent metabolism:
Viruses do not possess independent metabolism. They do not carry out metabolic processes like respiration or protein synthesis on their own. Instead, they hijack the host cell's machinery to replicate and produce more virus particles.
Presence of membrane-bound organelles:
Viruses do not have membrane-bound organelles like eukaryotic cells. They lack structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or Golgi apparatus. Instead, viruses are simple entities with genetic material enclosed in a protein coat.
In conclusion, the characteristic feature of viruses that sets them apart from other organisms is their inability to reproduce outside of host cells. They are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on host cells for replication and propagation.