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viruses are dormant when they are not inside a living cell. that means they don't have living characteristics when outside a living cell. they only reproduce when they are inside a living cell.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoViruses can reproduce IF they are infecting a host cell.
Viruses themselves do not have the equipment necessary to reproduce on their own, so without the host, they cannot reproduce.
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What is a difference between bacteria and viruses shows that bacteria are living organisms and viruses are nit?
Part of the definition of a living thing is that it can reproduce itself, which a virus can't do. Bacteria reproduce like any other cellular organism: by cellular division. Viruses, however, can not reproduce themselves. Instead, they infect other cells and force those to make more viruses.
How are viruses different from living organisms?
First Answer:Viruses are different from living organisms because:Viruses need host cells to reproduce.The do not perform cellular respiration.Viruses also need no nutrition, minerals or food. They need nothing other than a host.Second Answer:Viruses ARE living organisms.
How are viruses similar to living organisms and how are they different?
Viruses are similar to living organisms because both contain hereditary material (RNA or DNA), and both reproduce. Viruses are different from living organisms because they do not use energy to grow, and do not use energy to respond to their surroundings.
What distinguishes viruses from other microbes?
A virus does not have a cell membrane, as most all other living things. So some biologists do not consider them to be alive. The way a virus works is by hijacking a cell, either in a single cell bacteria or cells of a multi-cellular organism. It gets inside the cell membrane and then attacks the mitochondria, which are the energy units inside cells. Then it uses the cell's energy and resources to replicate itself, thereby killing the cell. There is treatment for some types of virus, like the flu virus.
Why are scientist reluctant to classify viruses as living things?
Viruses do not behave like other living cells. For one, they can only reproduce within other organisms. And essentially that is about all they do. Granted there are negative reprocussions for the host organism, but the virus itself simply multiplies. Viruses are also smaller than cells and can use even simple bacteria as a host. They are considered to be more like "free floating chemical agents."
How are vectors and viruses related?
They are related in that vectors are the organisms carrying the pathogens or virus itself. A virus relies on the vectors to spread to other organisms and reproduce.
What is a difference between bacteria and viruses shows that bacteria are living organisms and viruses are nit?
Part of the definition of a living thing is that it can reproduce itself, which a virus can't do. Bacteria reproduce like any other cellular organism: by cellular division. Viruses, however, can not reproduce themselves. Instead, they infect other cells and force those to make more viruses.
How do viruses create new particles or organisms?
Viruses attach to cells of a host (humans, other living organisms). This is how they reproduce and cannot live without a host. They either go into a lytic cycle where they just keep reproducing by using the cell of the host (it is kind of like hacking, and making the cell work for them). viruses can also go into lysogenic cycle where they just stay in the cell undetected until they decide they want to go into lytic cycle and reproduce.
How do ambas and other one-celled organisms reproduce?
How do amebas and other one-celled organisms reproduce?
How are viruses different from living organisms?
First Answer:Viruses are different from living organisms because:Viruses need host cells to reproduce.The do not perform cellular respiration.Viruses also need no nutrition, minerals or food. They need nothing other than a host.Second Answer:Viruses ARE living organisms.
How could viruses be helpful?
Some viruses target harmful organisms. For example, bacteriophage viruses kill bacteria. Other viruses might kill mosquitoes or weevils or other harmful insects without hurting any other species.
How are viruses unlike organisms?
Unlike organisms, viruses are not cellular, nor do they have ribosomes or any other organelles for protein production, energy generation, etc. They cannot capture or store free energy but can only use energy derived from their host. Also, viruses can only reproduce via the host and not on their own.
How are viruses similar to living organisms and how are they different?
Viruses are similar to living organisms because both contain hereditary material (RNA or DNA), and both reproduce. Viruses are different from living organisms because they do not use energy to grow, and do not use energy to respond to their surroundings.
What is an infectious disease caused by?
Infectious diseases are caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that have the ability to reproduce and spread to other parts of the body or to other hosts (people) and cause harm to the host by preventing parts of the body from performing necessary functions.
These pathogens cannot reproduce on their own and they must invade other cells to multiply?
Viruses
Why are viruses denied a kingdom?
Virus' are not living - they cannot exist outside a living organism, and therefore cannot be classified in the same way as other organisms
What is the difference between reproduction cycles of viruses and reproduction cycles of living things?
Viruses don't have their own metabolism so they simply can't reproduce without a cell. That's why they are obligatory parasites. Living cells, on the other hand, can channel some of their metabolic energy to reproduce themselves, without having to take over something else's metabolism to do so, like viruses invariably have to.
