Question

Regarding Assertion and Reason, select the option that is correct.

Assertion: Viruses are classified as living organism.

Reason: They have very simple, non-cellular structure and cannot exist independently.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
  
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct. But Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
• C. Both Assertion and Reasons are incorrect.
• D. The Assertion is incorrect but Reason is correct.
  

Answer 1

The correct option is C Both Assertion and Reasons are incorrect.

Viruses are obligate parasites. They comprise of genetic material (DNA/RNA) enclosed within a proteinaceous coat. When they enter the host cell, they become active and replicate at an alarming rate. In other words, they use the cellular machinery of the host cell to replicate. However, outside the host, they appear dead due to lack of cellular machinery. Since they are dead outside and living inside the host, they are not classified as living organisms and even though they are non-cellular, they can exist independently.