MCAT Question A Day - 5/25/14 - Answer!

Viruses most closely resemble:

A. facultative anaerobes.

B. aerobes.

C. saprophytes.

D. parasites.

D is correct. Viruses are not living and do not carry out any type of respiration. They require no nutrients, using energy acquired by their host cell. They cannot reproduce inside nonliving organic matter. Viruses reproduce at the expense of a host. Thus, they most closely resemble parasites.

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