Why do viruses need living hosts, such as bacteria or eukaryote cells? a Viruses depend on a host cell because they lack their own DNA or RNA. b Viruses have a cellular structure which never requires a host. c The host cell is the source of food for the virus. d Viruses depend on the host cells that they infect to reproduce/replicate.
1 answer
The correct answer is: d Viruses depend on the host cells that they infect to reproduce/replicate.
Viruses lack the cellular machinery necessary for their own reproduction and metabolism. Instead, they invade living host cells to hijack the cell's machinery and resources to replicate their genetic material and produce new virus particles.
