Question

why do viruses multiply only in the living cells

Answer 1

Viruses are ultramicroscopic organism s that are visible only through electron microscope. They are smaller than bacteria. They cannot reproduce by their own as they lack the required machinery for replication. Therefore, they need to infect a host cell. The virus gets inside the host cells and makes hundred and thousands of copies of itself by using the host machinery.
Virus cannot reproduce without a living cell. Once a virus infects a living cell, it injects its genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside the host cell. This genetic material after entering inside a living cell gets incorporated with the host DNA and starts replicating. The new replicated part of the viral genetic material covers itself with a protein coat and forms new virus. Without a living cell the genetic material of the virus cannot replicate.