What are the characteristics of a virus?

Answer 1

1. Intracellular Parasite: A virus is an obligate intracellular parasite that requires a host cell to replicate and multiply.

2. Simple Structure: Viruses are simple organisms consisting of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses may also have an outer envelope made of lipids.

3. Lacking Cell Organelles: Unlike living cells, viruses do not have cell organelles such as a nucleus, mitochondria, or ribosomes. They cannot generate or use energy on their own.

4. Genetic Diversity: Viruses exhibit a large degree of genetic diversity. They can have DNA or RNA as their genetic material, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded. This variety allows viruses to infect various hosts and cause different diseases.

5. Host Specificity: Viruses are highly host-specific, meaning they can only infect certain species, tissues, or cells. For example, the flu virus specifically targets respiratory epithelial cells in humans.

6. Replication and Assembly: Viruses cannot replicate on their own and must hijack the cellular machinery of a host cell to carry out replication and assembly. They use the host's resources to synthesize viral proteins and replicate their genetic material.

7. Obligate Intracellular Lifestyle: Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, implying that they depend entirely on host cells for their replication cycle. They cannot replicate outside a host cell.

8. Lack Metabolism: Viruses do not possess metabolic processes. They do not carry out respiration, growth, or independent reproduction.

9. Infectious Nature: Viruses are infectious agents capable of causing a wide range of diseases in humans, animals, plants, and even bacteria. They can be transmitted through various means such as respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or vectors like mosquitoes.

10. Evolve and Mutate: Viruses can evolve and mutate over time, leading to the emergence of new strains or species. This ability makes it challenging to develop universal vaccines or treatments against all viral infections.