Characteristics of virus

Characteristics of virus

Viruses have the characteristics as follows :

1. Viruses have 2 phase of existence, in their host cells and outside the host cells. If they are in their host cells, viruses can be called as organisms because they are able to reproduce, while if they are outside the host cells, viruses are not living.

2. Viruses can not be included in 1 of the kingdoms in classification system of the 5 kingdoms.

3. All viruses have parasitic characteristic and are harmful for their host.

4. Viruses consist of nucleic acid and capsid. Viruses with their mature parts are called virions.

5. Each virion consists of a type  nucleic acid (only DNA or RNA) and capsid. The nucleic acid generally only forms a single chain.

6. The size of viruses is extremely small with the diameter of about 20-400 nanometers (1 nanometer = 10^-9meters), so viruses can only be seen by using electron microscope.