AP BIOLOGY

THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE

THE GENETICS OF VIRUSES AND BACTERIA

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What part of a virus is the protein capsule that houses the genetic material (DNA/RNA)?
A
tail
B
nucleus
C
capsid
D
glycoprotein
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -A virus is made up of a DNA or RNA genome inside a protein shell called a capsid.

Detailed explanation-2: -Virus particles contain the viral genome packaged in a protein coat called the capsid. For some viruses, the capsid is surrounded by lipid bilayer that contains viral proteins, usually including the proteins that enable the virus to bind to the host cells.

Detailed explanation-3: -Each virus also possesses a virus attachment protein embedded in its outer-most layer. This will be found in the capsid, in the case of a naked virus, or the envelope, in the case of an enveloped virus.

Detailed explanation-4: -Viral Structure. In the simpler viruses the virion consists of a single molecule of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat, the capsid; the capsid and its enclosed nucleic acid together constitute the nucleocapsid.

Detailed explanation-5: -However, all virus particles have a protein coat that surrounds and protects a nucleic acid genome. This protein coat is called a capsid, and the instructions for making the protein subunits of the capsid are encoded in the nucleic acid genome of the virus.

There is 1 question to complete.