Viruses are non-living and do not undergo cell division; instead, injected nucleic acid causes the infected host cell to replicate virus particles
Viruses are not alive, so they cannot divide like cells do. Instead, a virus injects its genetic material into a host cell and forces that cell to make new virus copies.
Real World
When SARS-CoV-2 infects a respiratory cell, its RNA hijacks the host's ribosomes to mass-produce new viral particles — the virus itself contributes no metabolic machinery whatsoever.
Exam Focus
If asked why viruses are 'non-living', state they cannot metabolise, grow, or replicate independently — all three points are typically needed.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
How well did you know this?