Question

Is virus a cell?

Answer 1

Virus:

1. Viruses are not made out of cells.
2. A nucleic acid that has been protein-coated is what makes a virus an infectious microbe (either DNA or RNA).
3. A virus has to infect cells in order to use the components of the host cell to make copies of itself because it is unable to reproduce on its own.
4. A single virus particle is called a virion.
5. It is made up of a set of genes that are bundled within a protective shell made up of protein.
6. This protective shell is called a capsid.
7. Certain virus strains will have an extra membrane surrounding them called an envelope.
8. Hence, they are not considered a cell.