Which characteristic distinguishes viruses from bacteria?

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Multiple Choice

Which characteristic distinguishes viruses from bacteria?

Replication ability and cellular status distinguish viruses from bacteria. Viruses are not cells and cannot reproduce on their own; they must infect a host cell and hijack that cell’s machinery to copy their genetic material and assemble new viral particles. Bacteria are living cells with their own cellular components and can replicate independently under the right conditions. This makes the statement that viruses require a host cell to replicate while bacteria are living cells that can replicate on their own the best description of the difference. Other options don’t fit because viruses lack cell walls and independent metabolism, while bacteria do have cell walls and can replicate without a host.

Replication ability and cellular status distinguish viruses from bacteria. Viruses are not cells and cannot reproduce on their own; they must infect a host cell and hijack that cell’s machinery to copy their genetic material and assemble new viral particles. Bacteria are living cells with their own cellular components and can replicate independently under the right conditions. This makes the statement that viruses require a host cell to replicate while bacteria are living cells that can replicate on their own the best description of the difference. Other options don’t fit because viruses lack cell walls and independent metabolism, while bacteria do have cell walls and can replicate without a host.

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