Question

The fact that viruses can metabolise and reproduce only within the protoplasm of higher organisms indicates that they are also

• A. Autotrophic
• B. Heterotrophic
• C. Autotrophic and heterotrophic
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Heterotrophic

According to chief carbon source, organisms are classified as autotrophs (self-feeder) and heterotrophs (use organic compounds as carbon source). Organisms that synthesize organic compounds using carbon dioxide as chief carbon source in presence of sunlight or chemical energy are called as autotrophs. Since, viruses do not exhibit metabolism out of their host cell, they are not autotrophs. This makes options A and C incorrect.

The organisms that need organic carbon source which in turn enter their cells by diffusion or active transport. The organic material digestion can occur within cell (intracellular) or outside the cell (extracellular). Owing to absence of any enzymatic machinery for metabolic reactions, viruses use the digestive enzymes of host cells to carry out oxidation of organic material thereby exhibiting extracellular digestion. This makes option B correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.