Name two components common to all viruses.

Question

Accepted Answer

All right. Hello everyone. So this question is asking us which of the following components are found in all viruses. For number one, we have genetic material. Two is capsid, three are ribosomes and four are mitochondria. So in addition to these different components, we also have four different answer choices labeled A through D proposing which components are correct, right. So first, let's talk about the basic components of all viruses, which if you recall are noncellular infectious agents. So because they're noncellular, right, they rely on living host cells to replicate inside of them. So there are three basic components to understand about the structure of a virus. Number one of course is the genetic material, but depending on the virus itself, it can be either DNA or RNA, this carries the genome of the virus. So now that genetic material, whether it's DNA or RN A is enclosed inside a capsule. So the acid is the protein shell, so to speak, that surrounds the genetic material. And so for the third component, in some cases, we do see a lipid membrane within the structure of a virus. But I do want to make it clear that the third component here, the lipid membrane is not present in all viruses, only some of them are going to have a lipid membrane. So that's an important distinction. Going back to the question though, we can see that all viruses are guaranteed to have genetic material and a capsule. So that's statements, one and two respectively, which therefore are correct. So, statements three and four, right, ribosomes and mitochondria respectively are both organelles, right? They're both components of a cell ribosomes. If you recall, are responsible for protein synthesis and mitochondria are responsible for energy production. It's important to recognize that viruses are not cells, they don't have their own organelles. This is precisely why viruses have to hijack host cells to not only produce the proteins that they need for them but also to rely on their energy stores. So just to go ahead and say that one more time, viruses don't have ribosomes or mitochondria, which means that they rely on the host cells metabolism of energy and they also rely on the host cells, ribosomes to create viral proteins for them. So here our final answer is going to be option a in the multiple choice. This is because of the four components listed. Only the 1st and 2nd are found in all viruses that is genetic material and a capsid. So with that being said, thank you so very much for watching and I hope you found this helpful

Name two components common to all viruses.

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Key Concepts

Capsid

Genetic Material

Host Dependency