Compare a virus to a unicellular organism.(1 point)

Question

Responses

Viruses reproduce through asexual reproduction; unicellular organisms need a host cell.
Viruses reproduce through asexual reproduction; unicellular organisms need a host cell.

Unicellular organisms have a cell membrane made from a lipid bilayer; viruses have a protein coat.
Unicellular organisms have a cell membrane made from a lipid bilayer; viruses have a protein coat.

Neither unicellular organisms nor viruses respond to stimuli.
Neither unicellular organisms nor viruses respond to stimuli.

Viruses need energy; unicellular organisms do not need energy.
Viruses need energy; unicellular organisms do not need energy.

Answer 1

The statement "Unicellular organisms have a cell membrane made from a lipid bilayer; viruses have a protein coat." is accurate and provides a valid comparison between a virus and a unicellular organism.

Viruses do not have a cell membrane or cellular structure; they consist of a protein coat (capsid) that encloses their genetic material. In contrast, unicellular organisms, like bacteria and protozoa, are made up of one cell that has a cell membrane composed of a lipid bilayer.

The other statements are either incorrect or misleading:

• Viruses do not reproduce through asexual reproduction; they require a host cell to replicate.
• Both unicellular organisms and viruses can respond to stimuli, although the mechanisms differ.
• Viruses do not need energy in the traditional sense as they lack metabolic machinery; they rely on the host's cellular processes. Unicellular organisms do require energy for their metabolic activities.