What is a characteristic of a virus outside a living organism?

A virus cannot reproduce outside a living cell because it relies on the cellular machinery of the host organism to replicate and produce new virions. Viruses lack the cellular structures and metabolic processes necessary for reproduction on their own. Instead, they must enter a host cell, where they hijack the cell's machinery to replicate their genetic material and produce new virus particles. This characteristic distinguishes viruses from living organisms, which can reproduce independently.

Furthermore, while viruses can remain dormant or stable in various environmental conditions for a period, they do not actively multiply or reproduce outside a host. This inability to reproduce without a host cell is a fundamental aspect of viral biology and an essential concept in understanding infection control and asepsis practices.