Which one of the following statements regarding viruses is not true

Which one of the following statements regarding viruses is not true ?

Viruses need living cells to reproduce.
All viruses are parasites.
Viruses can synthesize their food through photosynthesis.
Viruses are similar to chemical substances outside the host.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2019
The correct option is C) Viruses can synthesize their food through photosynthesis.
Viruses are acellular entities that lack the metabolic machinery necessary for processes like photosynthesis or self-synthesis of food. They are obligate intracellular parasites.
Viruses require a host cell to reproduce because they lack the necessary enzymes and ribosomes. They hijack the host cell’s machinery to replicate. Outside a host cell, a virus particle is essentially an inert complex of genetic material and protein, behaving like a chemical substance. They obtain energy and building blocks from the host cell, not through photosynthesis or any independent metabolic activity.
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