Viruses Essays (362 words) - Virology, Biology, Microbiology, Virus

Viruses Viruses share some characteristics with cells; however lack the qualities of living organisms. Viruses are simple structured organisms; they only have four structures that make them. They aren't considered to be living organisms due to several reasons such as reproduction and energy powered. They are often mistaken to be cells, however they are smaller and replicate inside of cells. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and are capable to infect all types of living organisms. Viruses have four structures; the lipid envelope, capsid, genetic material, and the protein coat. The Lipid envelope is derived from the host cell membrane and play roles in viral infection and virus attachment to cells. The next component of the structure is the capsid; it is made from proteins, and is encoded by the viral genome which incases the nucleic acid of the virus. The third structure of a virus is the genetic material which is made of DNA or RNA, never both; it carries the genetic information which helps determine the composition of the organism. The last structure of a virus is the protein coat which helps attach the virus to a cell. Viruses aren't capable of reproducing outside of a cell therefore they don't meet the criteria of life and aren't to be considered living. Viruses are small infectious agents that are only able to replicate inside the living cells. They don't have their own biological "machinery" to replicate and doesn't multiply through cellular division. They also don't contain a metabolism therefore don't run on energy like living organisms. They just float around until they find a healthy cell to attach to and infect. They also can't regulate its temperature itself. Although viruses have a basic structure they are capable of infecting all types of living organisms and can cause serious damage. There is a blurred line between living and non-living although there are many good quality factors which make it non-living. Without a host viruses wouldn't be able to duplicate and infect organisms. Viruses are always mistaken for cells but never for bacteria, because they are much smaller and require a living host to survive unlike bacteria.