Question 10 — Viruses contain genetic material like - Questions at the end of the chapter - Chapter 12 - Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification

Last updated at July 16, 2026 by

Question 10
Viruses contain genetic material like living organisms but lack cellular organisation. Which features prevent them from fitting into the five kingdom system? What does this tell us about the limitations of classification systems?
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  • Viruses lack cellular organisation and cannot carry out life processes (nutrition, respiration, reproduction) on their own outside a host.
  • This shows classification systems have limitations — they may not accommodate every new or borderline entity.
Limits of Classification Viruses lack cellular organisation They cannot live on their own So the system has real limits
Back to: 12.6 Five Kingdom Classification
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