A virus is, arguably, the smallest possible living thing. It is a bundle of DNA or RNA bound up in a minuscule core, sometimes surrounded by a sturdy envelope and sometimes not. It can reproduce, but ...

Do viruses conform to these criteria? Yes and no. We probably all realize that viruses reproduce in some way. We can become infected with a small number of virus particles — by inhaling ...

But viruses certainly reproduce, infecting people and causing illnesses. It’s how they reproduce that’s unusual. Viruses lack essential machinery needed to reproduce by themselves. In fact ...

Understanding the differences between bacteria and viruses is crucial for recognizing how these microorganisms impact our ...

Aa Aa Aa Viruses are the smallest microorganisms in nature. As such, they are obligate parasites, which means that they cannot live or reproduce without a host. Consequently, viruses are found ...