Question

What is a virus? Explain how virus infects and causes disease.

Accepted Answer

The virus can be best defined as a non-cellular, infectious agent which is microscopic in structure. They are of different shapes and structures. Viruses are neither living nor non-living. This microorganism can live only by depending on the host cell. This microorganism has an infectious entity with genetic material and protein.

Viruses are difficult to classify as living or non-living. Like non-living things, viruses do not respond to changes; also they do not grow or reproduce by themselves. They behave as non-living particles outside the body of the host organisms. The viral body consists of a nuclear core having DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat known as a capsid. However, viruses can grow and multiply by infecting the living cells of the host organisms. They use the energy of the host cells for this purpose. After the formation of thousands of new viruses, the host cell dies. These new viruses invade other healthy cells. As a large number of host cells die in the process, the infected person falls ill.

What is a virus? Explain how virus infects and causes disease.

Important Questions on Worksheet 1 (Chapters 1-5)

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