Which of the following processes can viruses carry out independently?

• A. Self-assembly of new viral particles after host cell infection
• B. Protein synthesis using their own ribosomes
• C. Replication of their genetic material using host cell machinery
• D. Metabolism of nutrients for energy production

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot carry out most life processes independently and require a host cell to replicate.
2. Step 2: Analyze each option by considering what viruses inherently possess and what they lack. For example, viruses do not have their own ribosomes, so they cannot perform protein synthesis independently.
3. Step 3: Recognize that viruses rely on the host cell's machinery to replicate their genetic material, so they cannot replicate their genome independently.
4. Step 4: Consider that viruses do not have metabolic pathways or organelles to metabolize nutrients for energy production, so they cannot carry out metabolism independently.
5. Step 5: Identify that the only process viruses can perform independently after entering the host cell is the self-assembly of new viral particles, which is a spontaneous process driven by the chemical properties of viral components.