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A virus is a small infectuous agent that only replicates inside the cells of other organisms. It typically consists of a nucleic acid inside a protein coat, and is too small to be seen by any form of light microscopy. It is debatable whether viruses are microorganisms or not because they are not alive as they cannot reproduce themselves. A virus is a parasite and works by inserting gentic material into a host cell and taking over that cell's functions. As the cell reproduces, it produces more viral material than its regular products. Viruses were first identifies by Durtch scientist Martinus Beijerinck in 1898. Most viruses are transmitted through means of simple or sexual contact. Others may need agents to spread.