Characteristics of Viruses
Following are a few characteristic of viruses:
- A cell nucleus is absent.
- Their cell structure is disorganized.
- They usually consist of one or two strands of DNA or RNA.
- They are covered in a protective protein coat called capsid.
- They are able to reproduce even though they cannot grow, respire, or metabolize.
- They are considered both living and non-living since they are inactive outside the host cell and become active within the host cell.
Also Read: Virus in Biology
Difference between Virus and Virion
The difference between virus and virion is that virus is the nucleoprotein particle whereas virion is the active, infectious form of the virus. A virus consists of genetic material encased by a protein capsid. It does not show any metabolic activity. Virion is the vector stage of a virus, which permits the transmission of a virus from one infected host cell to another.
Therefore, the virus is the intracellular phase whereas virion is the extracellular phase of the virus. Both virus and virion are two kinds of microscopic, obligatory parasites that are infectious. In this article, we will study the difference between a virus and a virion, what a virus is, the characteristics of a virus, what a virion is, and the similarities between a virus and virion.
Table of Content
- Difference Between Virus and Virion
- What is a Virus?
- What is a Virion?
- Similarities Between Virus and Virion
- Conclusion: Difference between Virus and Virion