New York Nail Technician License Practice Test

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Which of the following is a characteristic of viruses compared to bacteria?

Composed of single cells
Can reproduce outside a host
Requires a host to replicate
Contains DNA only

The correct answer is: Requires a host to replicate

Viruses are uniquely characterized by their reliance on a host organism to replicate. Unlike bacteria, which are single-celled organisms capable of independent reproduction, viruses must invade a host cell to reproduce. Once inside, they hijack the host's cellular machinery to replicate their genetic material and produce new viral particles. This distinction is crucial in understanding the nature of viruses and their differences from bacteria. The other characteristics listed do not apply to viruses. For instance, viruses are not composed of cells, which means they don’t fulfill the criteria of being single-celled organisms. They cannot replicate outside of a host; in fact, they are entirely dependent on living cells for their lifecycle. Additionally, while viruses can contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, the statement that they only contain DNA is misleading since many viruses contain RNA instead. Therefore, the most accurate characteristic that sets viruses apart from bacteria is their necessity for a host to replicate.