Question

unit 1 cumulative test (characteristics of life, biomolecules, cell structure and transport) 2025
34 of 42
a student reads in a science blog that viruses take over a host cell to reproduce. why do viruses depend on living cells to reproduce?
possible points: 2.13
○ viruses do not have the organelles necessary for reproduction.
○ viruses do not have any genetic material.
○ viruses can only replicate through meiosis.
○ viruses can only reproduce by creating a zygote.

Explanation:

To determine why viruses depend on living cells to reproduce, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Viruses are acellular (no cells) and lack organelles like ribosomes, enzymes, etc., needed for replication. They use the host cell's organelles and resources to make new viruses. This is correct.
• Option 2: Viruses do have genetic material (DNA or RNA), so this is incorrect.
• Option 3: Meiosis is a type of cell division for sexual reproduction in eukaryotes. Viruses don't undergo meiosis; they replicate by hijacking host cells, so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: Zygotes are formed in sexual reproduction (fusion of gametes), and viruses don't reproduce this way. They replicate by using host cell machinery, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. Viruses do not have the organelles necessary for reproduction.