NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Most biologists say no. Viruses are not made out of cells, they can’t keep themselves in a stable state, they don’t grow, and they can’t make their own energy. Even though they definitely replicate and adapt to their environment, viruses are more like androids than real living organisms.

Detailed explanation-2: -Viruses are complicated assemblies of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, but on their own they can do nothing until they enter a living cell. Without cells, viruses would not be able to multiply. Therefore, viruses are not living things.

Detailed explanation-3: -So, the correct answer is ‘They can reproduce’.

Detailed explanation-4: -Viruses are microscopic, acellular organisms that are not considered living or not living. In the surrounding environment, the viruses are considered dead as they do not possess any characteristics of a cell.

Detailed explanation-5: -However, viruses lack the hallmarks of other living things. They don’t carry out metabolic processes, such as making the energy molecule of life, ATP, and they don’t have cells and therefore the cellular machinery needed to make proteins by themselves.