
Concept explainers
The genome of a virus consists of (a) DNA (b) RNA (c) prions (d) DNA and RNA (e) DNA or RNA

Introduction: An organism which has the characteristic feature to reproduce inside the living cell is called “virus”. They can survive without the host for a long period of time. When they infect the host cell they use the cell machinery of the host to reproduce. The size of the virus is extremely small and varies from 20 to 300 nm. The wide area of Earth is occupied by the viruses.
Answer to Problem 1TYU
Correct answer: The viral genome consists of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). Hence, the correct answer is option (e).
Explanation of Solution
Reason for correct answer:
Viral genome can be DNA or RNA, but it cannot be both at the same time. The virus can have single stranded or double stranded genome. This makes the virus classified into four categories: ss DNA, ds DNA, ss RNA, and dsRNA. Viruses can possess only a single type of genome at a time. Thus, the virus consists of either DNA or RNA.
Option (e) is given as “DNA or RNA”.
The virus can have either “DNA or RNA” as its genome. Hence, the correct answer is option (e).
Reason for incorrect answer:
Option (a) is given as, “DNA”.
Some of the viruses also possess RNA as their genetic material. This means some of the viruses still carrying RNA as their genome. Hence, option (a) is incorrect.
Option (b) is given as, “RNA”.
There are a variety of species still exists which consist of DNA as their genome. This signifies that the variety of viruses are having different genetic material other than RNA Hence, option (b) is incorrect.
Option (c) is given as, “prions”.
A prion is an organism which does not affect by any radiation and the presence of either DNA or RNA was not found in them. Thus, such a structure cannot be considered as the genome. Hence, option (c) is incorrect.
Option (d) is given as, “DNA and RNA”.
Viruses cannot possess both DNA and RNA as their genome at the same time. They can have either DNA or RNA in their genome. Thus, both of these genomic materials cannot be considered as genetic material in viruses. Hence, option (d) is incorrect.
Hence, the options (a), (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.
The genome of the virus can have either “DNA or RNA” at a time.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 24 Solutions
Biology (MindTap Course List)
- This question has multiple parts (A, B & C), and under the subject of Nutrition. Thank you!arrow_forwardCalculate the CFU/ml of a urine sample if 138 E. coli colonies were counted on a Nutrient Agar Plate when0.5 mls were plated on the NA plate from a 10-9 dilution tube. You must highlight and express your answerin scientific notatioarrow_forwardDon't copy off the other answer if there is anyarrow_forward
- Use the following information to answer the question(s) below. Martin Wikelski and L. Michael Romero (Body size, performance and fitness in Galápagos marine iguanas, Integrative and Comparative Biology 43 [2003]:376-86) measured the snout-to-vent (anus) length of Galápagos marine iguanas and observed the percent survival of different-sized animals, all of the same age. The graph shows the log snout-vent length (SVL, a measure of overall body size) plotted against the percent survival of these different size classes for males and females. Survival (%) 100- 80- 60- 40- 20- 0+ 1.9 T 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Log SVL (mm) 19) Examine the figure above. What type of selection for body size appears to be occurring in these marine iguanas? A) directional selection B) stabilizing selection C) disruptive selection D) You cannot determine the type of selection from the above information. 3arrow_forward24) Use the following information to answer the question below. Researchers studying a small milkweed population note that some plants produce a toxin and other plants do not. They identify the gene responsible for toxin production. The dominant allele (T) codes for an enzyme that makes the toxin, and the recessive allele (t) codes for a nonfunctional enzyme that cannot produce the toxin. Heterozygotes produce an intermediate amount of toxin. The genotypes of all individuals in the population are determined (see table) and used to determine the actual allele frequencies in the population. TT 0.49 Tt 0.42 tt 0.09 Refer to the table above. Is this population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? A) Yes. C) No; there are more homozygotes than expected. B) No; there are more heterozygotes than expected. D) It is impossible to tell.arrow_forward30) A B CDEFG Refer to the accompanying figure. Which of the following forms a monophyletic group? A) A, B, C, and D B) C and D C) D, E, and F D) E, F, and Garrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningConcepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax College




