What is the structure of viruses
Section 6.3 Viruses: Structure, Function, and Uses. A virus is a small parasite that cannot reproduce by itself. Once it infects a susceptible cell, however, a virus can direct the cell machinery to produce more viruses. Most viruses have either RNA or DNA as their genetic material.he T phages of E. coli are large lytic phages that contain a single molecule of double-stranded DNA. This molecule is about 2 × 10 5 base pairs long in T2, T4, and T6 viruses and about 4 × 10 4 base pairs long in T1, T3, T5, and T7 viruses. Virus Structure. Viruses are not plants, animals, or bacteria, but they are the quintessential parasites of the living kingdoms. Although they may seem like living organisms because of their prodigious reproductive abilities, viruses are not living organisms in the strict sense of the word.ome scientists speculate that viruses started as rogue segments of genetic code that adapted to a parasitic existence. All viruses contain nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA (but not both), and a protein coat, which encases the nucleic acid. Some viruses are also enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules. Best Answer: There is a wide variety of virus structures, but all of them carry two elements in common. (1) They have a DNA or RNA genome, and (2) they have a protein coat, or capsid, that protects this genome from the environment. just now. Report Abuse. A virus (from the Latin virus meaning toxin or poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell. Each viral particle, or virion, consists of genetic material, DNA or RNA, within a protective protein coat called a capsid. Let's look at the structure of viruses. A virus particle, also known as a virion, is essentially a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein shell or coat.Viruses are extremely small, approximately 20 - 400 nanometers in diameter. The largest virus, known as the Mimivirus, can measure up to 500 nanometers in diameter. virus particle, also known as a virion, is essentially a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein shell or coat. Viruses are extremely small, approximately 20 - 400 nanometers in diameter. The size majority of viruses range between 10 to 300 nanometers. The structure of a virus cell, known as a virion (as discussed above, viruses do not have a cellular structure) is quite interesting to study.A single virion is composed of an outer coat of protein, which is called capsid, enclosing nucleic acid within it.hether a virus is a proper life form or organism is a topic of much debate. There are several reasons behind such contradictory opinions. Although viruses have genes and undergo evolution by natural selection, they do not reproduce by cell division as they do not possess a cellular structure. Some scientists speculate that viruses started as rogue segments of genetic code that adapted to a parasitic existence. All viruses contain nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA (but not both), and a protein coat, which encases the nucleic acid. Some viruses are also enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules.In its infective form, outside the cell, a virus particle is called a virion. Each virion contains at least one unique protein synthesized by specific genes in its nucleic acid.ome scientists speculate that viruses started as rogue segments of genetic code that adapted to a parasitic existence. All viruses contain nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA (but not both), and a protein coat, which encases the nucleic acid. Some viruses are also enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules. The surface of viruses includes many copies of one type of protein that binds, or adsorbs, specifically to multiple copies of a receptor protein on a host cell. This interaction determines the host range of a virus and begins the infection process (Figure 6-15).he T phages of E. coli are large lytic phages that contain a single molecule of double-stranded DNA. This molecule is about 2 × 10 5 base pairs long in T2, T4, and T6 viruses and about 4 × 10 4 base pairs long in T1, T3, T5, and T7 viruses. The typical way in which a virus replicates is by first attaching to a host cell, penetrating the host cell, releasing the viral genomic nucleic acid inside the host cell and replicating by synthesizing the viral RNA, and assembling and synthesizing viral protein. That was a brief look at the structure of a virus.hether a virus is a proper life form or organism is a topic of much debate. There are several reasons behind such contradictory opinions. Although viruses have genes and undergo evolution by natural selection, they do not reproduce by cell division as they do not possess a cellular structure. The shapes of these virus particles range from simple helical and icosahedral forms for some virus species to more complex structures for others. Most virus species have virions that are too small to be seen with an optical microscope. The average virion is about one one-hundredth the size of the average bacterium.ome viruses cause no apparent changes to the infected cell. Cells in which the virus is latent and inactive show few signs of infection and often function normally. This causes persistent infections and the virus is often dormant for many months or years. · just now. Report Abuse. A virus (from the Latin virus meaning toxin or poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell. Each viral particle, or virion, consists of genetic material, DNA or RNA, within a protective protein coat called a capsid. just now. Report Abuse. A virus (from the Latin virus meaning toxin or poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell. Each viral particle, or virion, consists of genetic material, DNA or RNA, within a protective protein coat called a capsid.
A virus is a small parasite that cannot reproduce by itself. Once it infects a susceptible cell, however, a virus can direct the cell machinery to produce more viruses. Most viruses have either RNA or DNA as their genetic material.