Which statement about viruses is true?
A) They are not cells.
B) They can regulate the movements of substances into and out of the cell.
C) They can reproduce outside living cells.
D) They are large and therefore easy to study.
E) They are the smallest life form.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Viruses are not considered living organisms because they lack many basic characteristics of life, including the ability to regulate their internal environment and carry out metabolic processes. They are not composed of cells and can only replicate by hijacking the machinery of living cells.

Answer: C
 Viruses cannot reproduce on their own, and instead require living host cells in order to replicate. Once a virus infects a host cell, it can use the host's cellular machinery to create new virus particles.

Answer: E
 While viruses may be complex in some ways, they are typically much smaller than even the simplest living organisms. They range in size from around 20 nanometers to several hundred nanometers, while most living cells are several micrometers in diameter.

Which Statement About Viruses Is True