AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Viruses are smaller and simpler in construction than unicellular microorganisms, and they contain only one type of nucleic acid-either DNA or RNA-never both.

Detailed explanation-2: -These require the host cellular machinery to replicate and propagate their infection. The genetic material in viruses is either RNA or DNA. It is not possible for a virus to contain both RNA and DNA. This is because (biologically speaking), there doesn’t seem to be any need for it.

Detailed explanation-3: -Viruses are microscopic parasites responsible for a host of familiar – and often fatal – diseases, including … the flu, Ebola, measles and HIV. They are made up of DNA or RNA encapsulated in a protein shell and can only survive and replicate inside a living host, which could be any organism on earth.

Detailed explanation-4: -Virus genomes All viruses have genetic material (a genome) made of nucleic acid. You, like all other cell-based life, use DNA as your genetic material. Viruses, on the other hand, may use either RNA or DNA, both of which are types of nucleic acid.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Basics of Viruses Unlike all other biological entities, some viruses, like poliovirus, have RNA genomes and some, like herpesvirus, have DNA genomes. Further, some viruses (like influenza virus) have single-stranded genomes, while others (like smallpox) have double-stranded genomes.