Viruses are acellular - this means that they are not cells! They are not living and cannot reproduce on their own. Instead, they invade other organisms called host cells to reproduce. Viruses only have the following organelles:
- A protein coat called a capsid
- Attachment proteins
- A core of genetic material - either DNA or RNA
How do viruses reproduce?
As they are non-living they cannot reproduce by themselves, instead they inject their genetic material into a host cell. Then, the host cell replicates the viral particles - the process is below!
- The virus attaches to a host cell using their receptor proteins
- The genetic material (DNA or RNA) is injected into the host cell
- The genetic material and proteins are replicated through the host cell's "reproductive machinery"
- The viral components are assembled
- The replicated viruses are released