NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A virus is an infectious particle that reproduces by “commandeering” a host cell and using its machinery to make more viruses. A virus is made up of a DNA or RNA genome inside a protein shell called a capsid. Some viruses have an external membrane envelope. Viruses are very diverse.

Detailed explanation-2: -A virus is an infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria.

Detailed explanation-3: -Viruses cannot reproduce outside a living cell because they lack the cellular organisation and independent machinery which is required for the reproduction and other metabolic activities. They can only multiply inside the living cell of host by using host’s cellular machinery.

Detailed explanation-4: -Viruses cannot replicate on their own, but rather depend on their host cell’s protein synthesis pathways to reproduce. This typically occurs by the virus inserting its genetic material in host cells, co-opting the proteins to create viral replicates, until the cell bursts from the high volume of new viral particles.

Detailed explanation-5: -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.