👉 Viruses are unique infectious agents that consist of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, encased in a protein coat known as a capsid. What sets viruses apart is their fluid nature; unlike cellular organisms, they lack the cellular machinery required for independent metabolism or reproduction. Instead, viruses must hijack the host cell's machinery to replicate themselves. This process involves attaching to and entering a host cell, where the viral genetic material takes over the cell's functions to produce new viral particles. The newly formed viruses are then released from the host cell, often destroying it in the process, to infect new cells. This fluid and parasitic mode of existence makes viruses both fascinating and challenging to study and combat.
