Which of the properties of life do viruses display? Select all that apply. 1. Ad

Question

Which of the properties of life do viruses display? Select all that apply.

1. Adaptation: can they evolve?

2.Energy processing: do they acquire and use energy?

3.Regulation: can they alter their functions?

4.Order: are they composed of smaller units?

5.Homeostasis: can they maintain internal conditions in response to environmental changes

6.Do they Grow and Develop?

7.Sensitivity or Response to Stimuli: can they sense their environment and respond?

8.Reproduction:Do they pass DNA on to their offspring?

Explanation / Answer

Viruses are known as biological puzzles as with lot of debates on various characteristics they have are living and non- living both. Viruses are seen performing many functions when in host.

Let us check each of the point in the question with explanation.

1. Adaptation: Viruses do evolve to adapt according to their host for infection or to develop the multiplication properties. They contain genetic material and hence can evolve.

2. Energy processing: Viruses cannot perform any kind of biological processes due to the lack of machinery which produces energy. They cannot create glucose and break it to ATP.

3. Regulation: They do not have any cellular activities and hence cannot have own functions.

4. order: They are made of DNA or RNA which in encapsulated in a protein coat. No other smaller units are seen. Because they have proteins or glycoproteins just like other living cells; they are often said living in this context.

5. Homeostasis: The regulation of temperature cannot be done by viruses due to lack of machinery. Hence, for this feature they are termed non- living.Lack of cellular activities makes viruses not follow homeostasis.

6. Once they form thier size and shape of capsulated protein coat, they cannot change their shape or size. Also, they cannot perform any life processes. Hence, they do not grow and develop. Even in the host body they remain in same size and shape.

7. The only response they can give is after reaching the host's body and using its body to multiply.

8. Reproduction: Again, this is the process which cannot be done by virus alone. This can happen only in the host body (when virus uses the machinery of host to multiply).

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