Why are viruses called parasites?
2007-01-30 13:26:39 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Parasites are organisms that feed off of other organisms. As the previous posts tried to point out, viruses need host cells in order to survive and reproduce.
To correct the earlier answers, nearly all viruses produce their own replication proteins, and very few viruses inject their DNA into host cells.
2007-01-31 02:17:32 · answer #1 · answered by floundering penguins 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only way a virus can reproduce or replicate itself is to take over the DNA of a host cell. The virus inserts its DNA into the host cells DNA and the host cell then makes virus cells. Without a host cell, a virus can not live and this is what makes it a parasite.
2007-01-30 23:24:16 · answer #2 · answered by mamabear1957 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they require another cell to live. They don't replicate themselves, they high-jack the processes and use it to build itself.
2007-01-30 21:58:31 · answer #3 · answered by lizettadf 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋