Question

Viruses are living because

• A. They can reproduce.
• B. They have protein synthesising machinery.
• C. They have some genes.
• D. They are parasites.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

They can reproduce.

Reproducing is one of the characteristics of the living organisms. Viruses definitely multiply. Viruses must use host cells to create more virions. Since viruses don’t have organelles, nuclei or even ribosomes, they don’t have the tools they need to copy their genes and create whole new virions. Instead, viruses enter living cells and then hijack the host’s cellular equipment to copy viral genetic information, build new capsids and assemble everything together. So, the correct answer is 'They can reproduce'.