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Virus

(Science: virology) viruses are obligate intracellular parasites of living but noncellular nature, consisting of dna or rna and a protein coat. They range in diameter from 20-300nm.

class i viruses (Baltimore classification) have double stranded dna as their genome.

class ii have a single stranded dna genome.

class iii have a double stranded rna genome.

class iv have a positive single stranded rna genome, the genome itself acting as mrna.

class v have a negative single stranded rna genome used as a template for mrna synthesis.

class VI have a positive single stranded rna genome but with a dna intermediate not only in replication but also in mrna synthesis.

non-living particle that replicates inside a living cell.

The majority of viruses are recognised by the diseases they cause in plants, animals and prokaryotes. Viruses of prokaryotes are known as bacteriophages.