Viral Life Cycle

Viral Life Cycle

Viruses are similar to living organisms, however there are differences. One of the ways a virus can be seen as living is that a virus needs to replicate and create progeny. However, unlike organisms, a virus cannot survive on its own. It is only active when replicating within a host, using a hosts' resources and food. Once inside a host, a virus's sole purpose is to make as many copies of itself, and infect other host cells; everything it does is to benefit its fitness and increase the number of its offspring.