Asked in PMC Practice Test 14 (2021) 2021Moderate

Why cannot viruses replicate on their own?

Correct answer: C. They lack metabolic machinery

  • A. They are too small
  • B. They have no cell wall
  • C. They lack metabolic machinery
  • D. All of the options are correct

Explanation

Viruses lack metabolic machinery thus they can not replicate themselves. So, option C is accurate.

Last updated

About Viruses

Viruses are acellular infectious particles made of genetic material enclosed by a protein capsid, sometimes with a lipid envelope. Their replication depends on a host cell and may follow lytic or lysogenic cycles, so viral structure and reproduction differ fundamentally from those of cellular organisms such as bacteria.

Practise Acellular Life

342 free Acellular Life MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Biology questions like this

Biology is on 6 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions