Viruses are ___ inside protein shells.

• A. ribosomes
• B. peptidoglycan
• C. lipids
• D. nucleic acids

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the basic structure of a virus: Viruses consist of genetic material surrounded by a protective protein coat called a capsid.
2. Identify the components listed in the options: ribosomes, peptidoglycan, lipids, and nucleic acids, and recall their biological roles.
3. Recall that ribosomes are cellular structures for protein synthesis, not part of viruses themselves.
4. Recognize that peptidoglycan is a component of bacterial cell walls, not found in viruses.
5. Know that lipids may be present in some viruses as an envelope but the core inside the protein shell is always nucleic acids (DNA or RNA).