EVERYDAY SCIENCE

SCIENCE

VIRUS AND BACTERIA

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which best describes the basic structure of a virus?
A
nucleic acid strand surrounded by a protein coat
B
a tail surrounded by a protein coat
C
a tail surrounded by a carbohydrate coat
D
nucleic acid strand surrounded by a carbohydrate coat
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Viruses can be extremely simple in design, consisting of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat known as a capsid . The capsid is composed of smaller protein components referred to as capsomers. The capsid+genome combination is called a nucleocapsid.

Detailed explanation-2: -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-3: -A virus is an infectious microbe consisting of a segment of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone; instead, it must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of itself.

Detailed explanation-4: -A capsid is the protein shell of a virus, enclosing its genetic material. It consists of several oligomeric (repeating) structural subunits made of protein called protomers.

Detailed explanation-5: -The capsid surrounds the virus and is composed of a finite number of protein subunits known as capsomeres, which usually associate with, or are found close to, the virion nucleic acid.

There is 1 question to complete.