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Biology 3rd Edition by Peter Russell, Paul Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Edition 3ISBN: 9781133592075Biology 3rd Edition by Peter Russell, Paul Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Edition 3ISBN: 9781133592075 Exercise 1
Viruses are infectious agents that contain either DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat.They cannot reproduce on their own, but they can take over the cells of the organisms they infect and force those cells to produce more virus particles.Based on the characteristics of living organisms described in this chapter, should viruses be considered living organisms?
Explanation
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Living organisms are made up of various macromolecules such as DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (Ribonucleic acid), proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. It arranged in a particular manner to form complex structures within the cell boundary called as plasma membrane.
Living organisms utilize and process raw material from the environment to produce energy for their growth, maintenance and repair. They reproduce to increase in their size and number.
Reproduction is the process of producing new offspring's by parent organisms. Living organisms reproduce in two ways known as asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction refers to the process of producing offspring without the involvement of gametes.
Asexually reproduced offspring are genetically similar to their parents. Few examples of asexual reproduction are binary fission and budding. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes from two organisms. Most animals including human reproduce sexually.
Viruses are simple microscopic agents mainly consisting of DNA or RNA present inside a protein coat and a tail. They cannot reproduce by themselves. They reproduce only when they are present inside a host cell.
On infecting the host cell, viruses release their genetic material in the host cell that replicates and produce new viral offspring. Hence, viruses are not considered as living entities as they fail to align by the characteristics of living organisms.
Living organisms utilize and process raw material from the environment to produce energy for their growth, maintenance and repair. They reproduce to increase in their size and number.
Reproduction is the process of producing new offspring's by parent organisms. Living organisms reproduce in two ways known as asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction refers to the process of producing offspring without the involvement of gametes.
Asexually reproduced offspring are genetically similar to their parents. Few examples of asexual reproduction are binary fission and budding. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes from two organisms. Most animals including human reproduce sexually.
Viruses are simple microscopic agents mainly consisting of DNA or RNA present inside a protein coat and a tail. They cannot reproduce by themselves. They reproduce only when they are present inside a host cell.
On infecting the host cell, viruses release their genetic material in the host cell that replicates and produce new viral offspring. Hence, viruses are not considered as living entities as they fail to align by the characteristics of living organisms.
Biology 3rd Edition by Peter Russell, Paul Hertz, Beverly McMillan
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