(1) their simple, acellular organization (2) the absence of both DNA and RNA in the same virion, (3) their inability to reproduce independently of cells and carry out cell division as prokaryotes and eukaryotes do. viruses differ from living cells in at least three ways: 5.1 General Properties of Viruses(1) their simple, acellular organization (2) the absence of both DNA and RNA in the same virion, (3) their inability to reproduce independently of cells and carry out cell division as prokaryotes and eukaryotes do. viruses differ from living cells in at least three ways: 5.1 General Properties of Viruses