Which statement best describes a viral infection?

Which statement best describes a viral infection?

• A. Viruses replicate independently in the cytoplasm
• B. Viruses require host cell machinery to replicate and can have RNA or DNA genomes
• C. Viruses have cellular organelles
• D. Viruses are always double-stranded DNA

Answer: (B)

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they must use the host cell’s machinery to replicate. They can carry either RNA or DNA genomes, and these genomes can be single- or double-stranded. Because they lack cellular organelles and cannot replicate on their own, the description that they require host cell machinery and have RNA or DNA genomes best captures what a viral infection is. The other statements are not accurate: some viruses do not replicate independently, many viruses do not have DNA genomes, and viruses lack cellular organelles.

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they must use the host cell’s machinery to replicate. They can carry either RNA or DNA genomes, and these genomes can be single- or double-stranded. Because they lack cellular organelles and cannot replicate on their own, the description that they require host cell machinery and have RNA or DNA genomes best captures what a viral infection is. The other statements are not accurate: some viruses do not replicate independently, many viruses do not have DNA genomes, and viruses lack cellular organelles.