Why do viruses need living hosts, such as bacteria or eukaryote cells?

Question

a
Viruses depend on the host cells that they infect to reproduce/replicate.
b
Viruses depend on a host cell because they lack their own DNA or RNA.
c
Viruses have a cellular structure which never requires a host.
d
The host cell is the source of food for the virus.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

a. Viruses depend on the host cells that they infect to reproduce/replicate.

Viruses do not have the cellular machinery necessary for metabolism or reproduction on their own, so they must infect a host cell to hijack its cellular machinery to create new virus particles. While option b is partially accurate (viruses do rely on host cells for replication), it is misleading because some viruses do contain their own nucleic acids (viral RNA or DNA). Options c and d are incorrect as viruses do not have a cellular structure and do not consume food like living organisms do.