Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the main difference between a computer worm and a biological virus?
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1. Introduction to Microbiology
Acellular Infectious Agents: Viruses, Viroids & Prions
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a characteristic of a virus?
A
It requires a host cell for replication
B
It contains both DNA and RNA in its genome
C
It can reproduce independently in the environment
D
It is composed only of proteins without any nucleic acids
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand what a virus is — a virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.
Step 2: Analyze the options given: viruses do not contain both DNA and RNA simultaneously; they have either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, but not both.
Step 3: Recognize that viruses cannot reproduce independently in the environment because they lack the cellular machinery necessary for replication.
Step 4: Know that viruses are composed of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid, so they are not made only of proteins.
Step 5: Conclude that the defining characteristic of viruses is their requirement for a host cell to replicate, as they rely entirely on the host's cellular machinery.
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