📖 what
What is a virus?
Quick Answer
A virus is a tiny infectious agent that can only reproduce inside a living cell. It sits at the boundary between living and non-living.
The Full Story
A virus is a microscopic package of genetic material — DNA or RNA — wrapped in a protein coat. On its own it is inert and cannot grow, move, or reproduce. To multiply it must hijack a living host cell, forcing that cell to make copies of the virus. This unusual nature places viruses on the border between living and non-living things. Viruses cause illnesses from the common cold to COVID-19, but many are harmless, and some even attack bacteria and are being explored as medical tools.
Key Facts
1.Viruses can only reproduce inside a host cell
2.They contain either DNA or RNA
3.Most viruses are far smaller than bacteria
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"What Is a Virus — Alive or Not?"
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