When discussing the multiplication of viruses, virologists prefer to call the process replication, rather than reproduction.

Question

When discussing the multiplication of viruses, virologists prefer to call the process

replication, rather than reproduction. Why do you think this is so? Would you agree with

virologists that replication is the better term?

Answer 1

The answer to this question goes into the assessment of what we associate reproduction and replication with in terms of microbiology. Reproduction is used to associate making new species that are considered alive. While replication , such as viruses, are only consider genetic material and not living species and need a host's replication machinery to make more copies of itself (replicating DNA/RNA/ proteins) which is why the term replication is more suitable then reproduction for viruses.