Life Science Viruses
Life Science Viruses are small infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living organisms. They consist of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Viruses are not considered living organisms because they cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own. They infect a host cell and hijack its machinery to replicate and produce more viruses, often causing disease in the process. Viruses can infect all types of organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria, and are responsible for a wide range of illnesses, from the common cold to more serious diseases such as HIV, influenza, and COVID-19.