Class 11 NEET Biology Biological Classification Questions Part 1

Viruses contain a protein coat known as capsid which encloses a single type of nucleic acid, either RNA or DNA. They do not have enzymes for protein synthesis. They multiply only inside the living host cell and for multiplication they take over the machinery of the host cell. Thus viruses are obligatory intercellular parasites. They lack cell division and enzymes for protein synthesis. They do not have cell organelles like mitochondria, Golgi complex, lysosomes, ribosomes etc. so they cannot live or reproduce separately.