Nature Of Virus

Question 1

Describe the non-living characteristic

Answer 1

Do not:

1. Contain cytoplasm or cellular organelles
   - > acellular
2. Respire
   -> do require machinery
   => no metabolism
3. Grow in size
   - > replicate using host cell to make more copies of themselves

Question 2

They are obligate parasite because

Answer 2

1. Hijack of host cell metabolic machinery
   -> synthesis and assembly of new viral components
   => progeny virus
2. Disrupt host’s cellular activities
3. Cause host’s death upon release of progeny virus
   - > lysis of host cell
4. Diseases upon infection
5. Specific host range
6. Viral specificity