Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyViruses: Structure and Characteristics

Why are viruses classified as acellular entities rather than true living cells?

  1. They lack cytoplasm and membrane-bound cellular organelles.Answer
  2. B
    They possess a membrane-bound nucleus containing their hereditary material.
  3. C
    They undergo cellular respiration within a fluid cytoplasmic matrix.
  4. D
    They are bounded by a semi-permeable phospholipid cell membrane.

Answer

Viruses are classified as acellular entities because they lack a cytoplasm, cell membrane, and membrane-bound organelles necessary for cellular life.
The correct answer highlights that viruses lack cytoplasm and membrane-bound cellular organelles. Unlike eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells, viruses are biological entities consisting solely of a nucleic acid core surrounded by a protein coat (capsid). Because they lack cellular organization and metabolic machinery, they are classified as acellular.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Define the key structural requirements of a cellular organism.
A true cell must contain a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and internal organelles (such as ribosomes) to carry out metabolic processes.
Establishing cell theory baseline criteria allows comparison with viral structure.
2
Analyze the structural organization of a virus.
A virus consists simply of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein coat (capsid), without cytoplasm or organelles.
Identifying the non-cellular components confirms their acellular classification.

Key Concept

Acellular Nature of Viruses
Rate this question

Topics

Viruses: Structure and Characteristics

More questions from this topic