Viruses
- Viruses are not part of any classification system as they are not considered living things
- They do not carry out the seven life processes for themselves, instead they take over a host cell’s metabolic pathways in order to make multiple copies of themselves
- Virus structure is simply
- Genetic material (RNA or DNA)
- A protein coat
- Some viruses contain an outer envelope as shown in the image below
- As a result, they can only replicate inside living cells
Structure of a virus diagram
Structure of a typical virus
- The structures of viruses can be varied, but all contain the same basic elements of a protein coat and genetic material
Virus Diagram
