A researcher is studying a particular disease-causing agent. The agent has a protein coat, but it lacks a nucleus, contains no other organelles, and can reproduce only when it is inside an animal cell. The researcher should classify the agent as which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The agent described lacks a nucleus and other organelles, and can only reproduce inside an animal cell, which are characteristics of viruses. Viruses have a protein coat (capsid) and require a host cell to replicate, distinguishing them from cellular organisms like bacteria, fungi, and protists.

A Researcher Is Studying a Particular Disease-Causing Agent