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Bot GPT 3.5 1. Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living organisms.
2. They contain genetic material in the form of either DNA or RNA, but not both, surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid.
3. Viruses are not considered living organisms because they cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own and rely on host cells to reproduce.
4. They can infect a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.
5. Viruses can cause a variety of diseases, including the common cold, flu, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
6. They have the ability to mutate quickly, leading to variations in their genetic makeup and potentially making them resistant to treatments or vaccines.
7. Viruses are typically spread through direct contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or bodily fluids.
8. Many viruses have specific target cells or tissues they infect, based on the proteins on their capsid that bind to receptors on host cells.