Which statement about viruses is true?

Which statement about viruses is true?

• A. Viruses cannot survive outside their host
• B. Viruses can multiply independently in water
• C. Viruses are larger than bacteria
• D. Viruses require oxygen to survive

Answer: (A)

Viruses are unique biological entities that differ from living organisms like bacteria in several ways. One of the defining characteristics of viruses is that they cannot survive independently outside a host organism. They lack the cellular machinery necessary for metabolism and reproduction; instead, they rely completely on infecting a host cell to replicate and propagate. This means that when outside of a host, viruses are essentially inert and cannot grow or multiply. This attribute emphasizes the importance of understanding how viruses interact with their environment and hosts, especially in water treatment processes where the control of viral contamination is crucial for public health. In contrast, the other statements do not hold true; for example, viruses do not multiply independently in water, as they require a host cell for replication. They are generally much smaller than bacteria and do not have oxygen requirements, as they are not considered living organisms in the traditional sense. Thus, recognizing that viruses cannot survive and multiply outside of their host is critical for understanding their role in water quality and safety.

Viruses are unique biological entities that differ from living organisms like bacteria in several ways. One of the defining characteristics of viruses is that they cannot survive independently outside a host organism. They lack the cellular machinery necessary for metabolism and reproduction; instead, they rely completely on infecting a host cell to replicate and propagate. This means that when outside of a host, viruses are essentially inert and cannot grow or multiply. This attribute emphasizes the importance of understanding how viruses interact with their environment and hosts, especially in water treatment processes where the control of viral contamination is crucial for public health.

In contrast, the other statements do not hold true; for example, viruses do not multiply independently in water, as they require a host cell for replication. They are generally much smaller than bacteria and do not have oxygen requirements, as they are not considered living organisms in the traditional sense. Thus, recognizing that viruses cannot survive and multiply outside of their host is critical for understanding their role in water quality and safety.