Question

The characteristic unique to a virus when compared to a bacterium is that the virus

A) Contains genetic material.
B) Can reproduce outside a host cell.
C) Is a cellular organism.
D) Lacks cellular structure.

Answer 1

Viruses lack cellular structure and cannot reproduce on their own. They depend on a host cell to synthesize their proteins and replicate themselves.

Step-by-step explanation:

An individual virus is called a virion. It is a tiny particle much smaller than a prokaryotic cell. Because viruses do not consist of cells, they also lack cell membranes, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and other cell organelles. Without these structures, they are unable to make proteins or even reproduce on their own. Instead, they must depend on a host cell to synthesize their proteins and to make copies of themselves. Although viruses are not classified as living things, they share two important traits with living things. They have genetic material, and they can evolve. This is why the classification of viruses has been controversial. It calls into question just what it means to be alive. What do you think? How would you classify viruses?