Since Viruses lack organelles and are totally dependent on the host cell's metabolic machinery for replication, they cannot be grown in synthetic media.

In the laboratory, animal viruses are grown in animals or animal cell culture, and plant viruses are grown in plants or plant plant cell culture.

There are two categories of Vectors biological and mechanical.

• If the virus increases its number while in association with a vector, then that vector is termed as being biological.
• Conversely, the vector is termed to be mechanical, if the virus doesnt increase its number while in association with that vector.

Arthropods such as wasps, which repeatedly can sting multiple animals, could serve as mechanical vectors by transporting viruses on the surface of their stingers.