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A virus "replicates" [the term often heard in place of "reproduces"] inside a host cell with the process called the Lytic Cycle. The details of the steps of the Lytic Cycle are in the related questions below in the Related Questions section.

Basically, once the virus has found a suitable host that is made up of the type of host cells that its virus type uses (i.e., plant, animal ~ including insects to humans, or bacteria), it attaches to the host. Then the virus implants the "key" to its genetic makeup into the cell. When this DNA "key" (or RNA in some viruses) of the virus is inserted into cells of a host, it allows the cells to be hijacked and, at the appropriate time for that particular virus, it instructs the host to make more virus particles. The virus can either lie dormant, such as in some cases of the HIV/AIDS virus, or immediately become active and command the host cell to start the replication processes.

If the virus becomes active, it can then turn the host cell into a 'factory' for making more viruses. The result usually, but not always, is that the host becomes ill because the cells are no longer functioning as they should for the host while working on the job of the replication. With each cycle of replication, the virus particles can invade even more and more cells until the host's immune system (or other defense) can catch up to kill the invader.

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13y ago

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Related Questions

These pathogens cannot reproduce on their own and they must invade other cells to multiply?

Viruses


Can viruses can reproduce by themselves?

No. Viruses must invade a host cell and hijack its resources to replicate itself.


Can viruses reproduce by themselves?

No. Viruses must invade a host cell and hijack its resources to replicate itself.


Viruses must reproduce in a cell because they lack organelles needed to duplicate viral components?

. Viruses must reproduce in a host cell because they lack organelles needed to duplicate viral components. True or false


Does virus reproduce artificially?

Viruses must be produced in a host cell. They can be produced in vitro (in glass) if there are host cells in there first.


Do viruses only reproduce inside living things?

A Virus must invade a host cell in order to reproduce. What people commonly mix up with them is bacteria which has no need to


What to viruses reproduce?

a host Cell


Do viruses require a host in order to reproduce?

Yes, viruses require a host in order to reproduce. They cannot replicate on their own and rely on infecting a host cell to reproduce and spread.


What are reasons viruses are considered non living?

Two very important reasons are growth and reproduction. Viruses do not have a way of converting potential energy, or photonic energy, into useful forms; no metabolism. Viruses can not reproduce on their own and must hijack a cell's reproductive machinery to reproduce themselves.


What is a difference between bacteria and viruses that shows that bacteria are living organims and viruses are not?

Bacteria metabolize ingested nutrients. Viruses do not do this. Bacteria reproduce by fusion. A virus needs a host to reproduce. Bacteria exchange gases with the environment. A virus does do this. A bacteria is motile in many cases. Flagella. Viruses must depend on the current in solution. As you see viruses do not have any of the markers of living organisms, but some biologists do not fully agree that viruses are not a sort of living organism.


Viruses have some of the properties of living organisms which is a characteristic of all organisms but NOT of viruses?

One of the characteristics is they contain genetic material (DNA), which is a characteristic that all living things must have in order to be considered living. And also when inside a host, they are able to reproduce, which all living things must be able to do.


Are Viruses able to reproduce without using other organisms?

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.