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

Question

• Viruses reproduce through asexual reproduction; unicellular organisms need a host cell.
• Viruses need energy; unicellular organisms do not need energy.
• Neither unicellular organisms nor viruses respond to stimuli.
• Unicellular organisms have a cell membrane made from a lipid bilayer; viruses have a protein coat.

Answer 1

The correct comparison between a virus and a unicellular organism based on the statements provided is:

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

Here's a brief explanation of how the other statements are inaccurate:

• Viruses do not reproduce through asexual reproduction; they require a host cell to replicate since they cannot reproduce independently. Unicellular organisms can reproduce asexually.

• Viruses do not need energy in the same way that unicellular organisms do; they are not living organisms and do not carry out metabolic processes. Unicellular organisms require energy for their metabolic functions.

• This statement is not accurate; unicellular organisms can respond to stimuli (such as environmental changes), while viruses generally do not exhibit any form of responsiveness as they lack cellular structures.

Thus, the distinction in cellular structure (lipid bilayer vs protein coat) is the critical difference highlighted in your comparison.