AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A virus cannot replicate alone; instead, it must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of itself. Often, a virus ends up killing the host cell in the process, causing damage to the host organism. Well-known examples of viruses causing human disease include AIDS, COVID-19, measles and smallpox.

Detailed explanation-2: -Specifically, they are pieces of genetic material (RNA or DNA) contained in a special coating of proteins called capsids. Viruses cannot replicate unless absorbed by cells in our body. Once a virus is outside the body, its capsid starts to degrade, and the more degraded its capsid is, the less likely it is to survive.

Detailed explanation-3: -A virus is a small parasite that cannot reproduce by itself. Viruses are made of genetic material and protein coat. They do not have cellular machinery required for viral multiplication.

Detailed explanation-4: -They do not possess ribosomes and cannot independently form proteins from molecules of messenger RNA. Because of these limitations, viruses can replicate only within a living host cell.

Detailed explanation-5: -They carry out no metabolism on their own and must replicate using the host cell’s metabolic machinery. In other words, viruses don’t grow and divide. Instead, new viral components are synthesized and assembled within the infected host cell.