12.7k views
3 votes
Are viruses considered living?

Are viruses considered a cell?
What does a virus need in order to
replicate/reproduce?
How do viruses look

User Jhunovis
by
4.0k points

2 Answers

2 votes

What does a virus need in order to

replicate/reproduce?

Step-by-step explanation:

Viruses replicate in four stages:

1. Attachment

During this stage, the virus attaches itself to the host. It may have either spikes or pins to help it attach.

2. Penetration

The virus injects the nucleic acid into the host cell.

3. Transcription

The host cells nucleic acid disintegrates, and the virus assembles the fragments to create its own structure and its own DNA or RNA.

4. Lysis

The host cell is split open to release the newly copied viruses it created in the host cell.

The new copies of the virus then repeat the process in new host cells.

User Alex Ilyin
by
4.3k points
3 votes

Answer:

In order to replicate, viruses must first hijack the reproductive equipment of a host cell, redirecting it to 'photocopy' the genetic code of the virus and seal it inside a newly formed container, known as the capsid. Without a host cell, the virus simply can't replicate.

User Eljenso
by
3.5k points