Why do viruses need living hosts, such as bacteria or eukaryote cells? a Viruses have a cellular structure which never requires a host. b Viruses depend on a host cell because they lack their own DNA or RNA. 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.

Answer 1

The correct answer is d. Viruses depend on the host cells that they infect to reproduce/replicate.

Viruses lack the cellular machinery required for metabolism and reproduction, so they must hijack a living host's cellular systems to replicate and propagate. They rely on the host's machinery to replicate their genetic material and produce new virus particles.