NEET 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: -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-3: -Therefore, each virus has a way of both replicating and expressing its nucleic acid; these strategies exploit the tools available within the susceptible host cell.

Detailed explanation-4: -All true viruses contain nucleic acid-either DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid)-and protein. The nucleic acid encodes the genetic information unique for each virus. The infective, extracellular (outside the cell) form of a virus is called the virion.

Detailed explanation-5: -A virus is made up of a core of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protective coat called a capsid which is made up of protein. Sometimes the capsid is surrounded by an additional spikey coat called the envelope.