Eli5: what exactly is a virus and are viruses alive?
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The general structure of a virus includes: the viral genome (vRNA) within a protein capsid (basically a protein container). Some viruses also have a lipid envelope similar to, but slightly different than a cell membrane; however not all do. The capsid (&/or envalope) often has molecular functionality allowing the virus to infect its host (insert its vRNA). The viral genome then utilizes the host cell’s molecular machinery (enzymes, proteins, etc) to integrate &/or replicate itself.
The difference between a virus (not technically alive), and a “living” cell basically comes down to it’s inability to metabolize energy and replicate on it’s own. Viruses require the host cell’s metabolic activity and replication machinery (DNA polymerase, ribosomes, etc) in order to replicate it’s own genetic material, and produce new viral proteins to form new viral particles.
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