Food Manager Practice Exam

What characteristic defines viruses in relation to living cells?

1. They can reproduce on their own

2. They are larger than bacteria

3. They can only reproduce in living cells

4. They live in food products

The correct answer is: They can only reproduce in living cells

Viruses are unique entities that do not possess the characteristics required for independent life, and their reproduction is wholly reliant on living cells. Unlike living organisms, viruses lack the cellular machinery necessary to replicate themselves outside of a host. When a virus infects a living cell, it hijacks the cell's biological processes to produce copies of itself. This means that without a host cell, viruses cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic functions. The other options present characteristics that do not accurately apply to viruses. For instance, viruses cannot reproduce on their own as they need a living cell to do so. Additionally, viruses are typically much smaller than bacteria, which contrasts with the claim of being larger. Lastly, while some viruses may be present in food products, their existence in such environments does not define their fundamental relationship with living cells, as their defining feature is their dependence on those cells for reproduction.