Virus is a disease producing particle. It is too small to be seen with naked eyes or an optical microscope, but , it can be seen with an electron microscope. It is basically unicellular. And is in between living and nonliving. Viruses are only capable of multiplication within a living cell. Each type of virus requires a specific host cell.
The simplest virus consists of a single helical strand of ribonucleic acid coated with protein molecules. The active principle of these viruses resides in a RNA as it is only this part of the particle that entry the cell.
Other viruses are considerably more complex and may be up to 0.2 micrometer in diameter. Therefore, viruses are considered to be on the borderline between the animate and inanimate.
In short viruses are most basic form of life, simply consists of a protein coat protecting a strand of DNA. they can only reproduce inside a living cell of another organism, and the cells are destroyed in the process.this is why viruses cause diseases.
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