A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of other organisms. It is not considered a living organism on its own because it cannot carry out basic life processes, like metabolism or reproduction, without a host cell.

What is a virus made of?

A virus is typically made up of three main components:

1. Genetic Material:

   • This is either DNA or RNA (never both), and it contains the instructions for making more viruses.

   • It can be single-stranded or double-stranded, depending on the type of virus.

2. Capsid:

   • A protein coat that surrounds and protects the genetic material.

   • Made of repeating protein subunits called capsomeres.

3. Envelope (optional):

   • Some viruses have an outer lipid envelope derived from the host cell membrane.

   • It may contain viral proteins (like spikes) that help the virus attach and enter host cells.

   • Examples: HIV, influenza.

Viruses vary in shape (spherical, rod-like, or complex like bacteriophages) and size, but all function by hijacking a host cell’s machinery to make more copies of themselves

Caution⚠️: don t invite harmful things