Section outline

  • A 3D representation of a virus, featuring geometric shapes and a colorful structure.

    What is a virus? Is it even a living organism ?
    ::病毒是什么?它甚至是一个活生物体吗?

    This alien-looking thing is a virus. But is it prokaryotic or eukaryotic? Or neither? Or both? A virus is essentially genetic material surrounded by . That's it. So, is a virus prokaryotic or eukaryotic? Or neither? Or both?
    ::这个外星外形的东西是一种病毒。 但是它是一种病毒。 但是它是一种病毒, 它是一种蛋白质还是一种蛋白质? 或者两者都不是? 或者两者兼而有之? 一种病毒基本上是遗传物质,它环绕着它。 就是这样。 那么, 一种病毒是一种蛋白质还是一种蛋白质? 或者两者兼而有之? 或者两者兼而有之?

    Viruses: Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?
    ::病毒:prokaryotes还是Eukaryotes?

    Viruses , like the one depicted in Figure , are tiny particles that may cause disease. Human diseases caused by viruses include the common cold and flu. Do you think viruses are or eukaryotes ? The answer may surprise you. Viruses are not at all, so they are neither prokaryotes nor eukaryotes.
    ::病毒和图中描述的病毒一样,是可能引起疾病的微小微粒。病毒引起的人类疾病包括普通的寒冷和流感。你认为病毒是或eukaryotes?答案可能令你吃惊。病毒根本不是,所以它们既不是直肠,也不是直肠。

    Cartoon representation of a flu virus, illustrating its structure and features.

    Cartoon of a flu virus. The flu virus is a tiny particle that may cause illness in humans. What is a virus? Is it a cell? Is it even alive?
    ::流感病毒的卡通。 流感病毒是一个微小的粒子, 可能会对人类造成疾病。 病毒是什么? 它是一个细胞吗? 它还活着吗?

    Viruses contain but not much else. They lack the other parts shared by all cells, including a plasma membrane, cytoplasm , and . Therefore, viruses are not cells, but are they alive? All living things not only have cells; they are also capable of . Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves. Instead, they infect living hosts, and use the hosts’ cells to make copies of their own DNA. Viruses also do not have their own metabolism or maintain . For these reasons, most scientists do not consider viruses to be living things.
    ::病毒包含的并不多。 它们缺乏所有细胞共有的其他部分, 包括等离子膜、 细胞型和 。 因此, 病毒不是细胞, 而是它们还活着吗? 所有生物都不仅有细胞, 它们也有能力自己繁殖。 相反, 它们感染了活体主机, 并且使用主机的细胞来复制自己的DNA。 病毒也没有自己的新陈代谢或保存。 出于这些原因, 大部分科学家不认为病毒是活体。

     

     

    Further Reading
    ::继续阅读

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Viruses are neither prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
      ::病毒既不是蛋白质,也不是蛋白质。
    • Viruses are not made of cells. Viruses cannot replicate on their own.
      ::病毒不是细胞制造的,病毒不能自行复制。
    • Most scientists do not consider viruses to be living.
      ::大多数科学家不认为病毒是活生生的。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What is a virus?
      ::什么是病毒?
    2. Explain why viruses are not considered to be living.
      ::解释为什么病毒不被视为活生生的。
    3. Is a virus made of cells?
      ::病毒是由细胞造成的吗?
    4. Can a virus reproduce?
      ::病毒能繁殖吗?
    5. Does a virus metabolize?
      ::病毒新陈代谢吗?