Multiple Choice
Which cell type is primarily targeted by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
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17. Viruses
Viruses
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Viruses can vary with respect to all of the following characteristics except __________.
A
DNA or RNA as the genetic material
B
single- or double-stranded nucleic acids
C
the presence or absence of a membranous envelope
D
the type of host cell it can infect
E
the presence or absence of metabolic machinery
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that viruses are unique infectious agents that can have either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded.
Recognize that viruses can have a membranous envelope, which is derived from the host cell membrane, or they can lack this envelope entirely.
Identify that viruses are specific to the type of host cell they can infect, meaning they have a particular range of organisms or cell types they can target.
Clarify that viruses do not possess metabolic machinery of their own, such as enzymes for energy production or protein synthesis, which distinguishes them from living cells.
Conclude that the characteristic that viruses do not vary in is the presence or absence of metabolic machinery, as they rely entirely on the host cell's machinery for replication and metabolic processes.
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