Virus
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A virus is a tiny non-cellular infectious agent that has two characteristics: It has genetic material (either DNA or RNA) inside a protective protein coat, and it cannot reproduce itself.[1] To reproduce itself, it needs to infect a cell. The genetic material is inserted into the cell, and the reproductive machinery of that cell is then effectively "hijacked": the cell starts to produce components of new virus particles. These components spontaneously self-assemble and the new virus particles can then infect other cells, where the same process happens.
Examples of viruses include the influenza virus, the common cold, smallpox and polio.
Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, the drugs used to kill bacteria.
References
- â Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With Biology. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1998