Do Viruses Lay Eggs?
No, viruses do not lay eggs.
Viruses are not considered living organisms in the traditional sense. Unlike organisms that reproduce sexually or asexually via egg-laying, viruses reproduce by infecting living cells. They hijack the cell's machinery to create copies of themselves. This process is fundamentally different from the egg-laying reproduction strategy employed by many animals and insects. See reference: Each virus is essentially a microscopic package of genetic material. They can only reproduce by infecting living cells: they subvert the cell's machinery to make copies of themselves. This reference highlights the core difference between viral reproduction and egg-laying methods seen in other organisms. Many biologists even question whether viruses are fully "alive" due to their simplistic nature and reliance on host cells for reproduction. See reference: Viruses are so simple that many biologists do not regard them as fully alive.
Several references discuss vectors like mosquitoes that do lay eggs and transmit viruses. For example, the CDC's information on dengue transmission explains that Aedes mosquitoes lay eggs in containers holding water, and infected mosquitoes transmit the virus through bites. See reference: These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in containers that hold water ... Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites. This clarifies that while mosquitoes reproduce via egg-laying, the viruses they carry do not.
The confusion might arise from discussions about the impact of viruses on egg-laying organisms. For instance, research shows that viral infections can affect egg production in honeybee queens. See reference: Common viral infections inhibit egg laying in honey bee queens and ... However, this doesn't imply that viruses themselves lay eggs; rather, it highlights that viruses can influence the reproductive processes of their hosts.
In summary, while some organisms that transmit viruses reproduce through egg-laying, viruses themselves do not lay eggs. Their replication mechanism relies on infecting host cells and using their machinery to create new virus particles.
