How do viruses reproduce?

Virus injecting its genetic material into a bacterium. © Gary E. Kaiser

A single virus particle (virion) is in and of itself essentially inert.

Viruses cannot reproduce or express their genes without the help of a living cell.

Once a virus has "infected" a cell, it will "marshal" the cell's ribosomes, enzymes and much of the cellular machinery to reproduce.

Viral reproduction produces many, many progeny, that when complete, leave the host cell to infect other cells in the organism.

Learn more about viruses, visit:

• Viruses
  
• Viruses and Cancer