Question

VIRUSES Use the resources in Canvas and/or your textbook to answer the following questions about viruses. Record the answers in your lab notebook

Are viruses prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, or neither?

Answer 1

Viruses are not prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. They lack the necessary structures to function as cells on their own and depend on host cells for replication.

Step-by-step explanation:

A virus is not a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. It is essentially genetic material surrounded by protein. Viruses lack a cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and other cell organelles, so they cannot make proteins or reproduce on their own. Instead, viruses depend on a host cell to synthesize their proteins and make copies of themselves.