Final answer:
Viruses use their nucleic acids, which can be DNA or RNA, to hijack the host cell's machinery for viral reproduction. This process involves transcription and synthesis of viral components using the host's metabolic systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Viruses use their genetic material to take over their host cell's metabolic machinery to produce the components needed for the virus to reproduce. This genetic material can be either DNA or RNA, depending on the type of virus. For instance, DNA viruses use the host cell's replication proteins and enzymes to make additional DNA that is transcribed to messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA is then used in protein synthesis.
RNA viruses usually use the RNA core as a template for the synthesis of viral genomic RNA and mRNA. The viral mRNA directs the host cell to synthesize viral enzymes and capsid proteins and to assemble new virions.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: Viruses use their nucleic acids material to take over their host cell's metabolic machinery to produce the components needed for the virus to reproduce.