Question 1

Which of the following statements best explains why viruses are not considered living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Viruses can only reproduce inside host cells and lack independent metabolic processes.

Question 2

A scientist observes a virus with a helical capsid and a phospholipid envelope. Which of the following is most likely true about this virus?

Accepted Answer

It acquires its envelope from the host cell membrane during replication or release.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the lytic replication cycle of a bacteriophage?

Accepted Answer

Attachment, entry, synthesis, assembly, release

Question 4

A patient is diagnosed with a viral infection that is known to cause persistent, slow-release of virions without immediate cell lysis. Which mechanism of viral release is most likely involved?

Accepted Answer

Budding

Question 5

Which of the following is a unique feature of prions compared to viruses and viroids?

Accepted Answer

They are composed solely of protein and lack nucleic acids.

Question 6

A virus with a single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome must carry which enzyme to replicate within a host cell?

Accepted Answer

RNA-dependent RNA transcriptase

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why some bacteriophages can confer new pathogenic properties to bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Lysogenic conversion allows phages to introduce genes that alter bacterial phenotype.

Question 8

Which of the following is a correct statement about the replication of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viral genome is replicated in the nucleus, while viral proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm.

Question 9

A researcher is using a plaque assay to estimate the number of bacteriophages in a sample. What does each plaque represent?

Accepted Answer

A single phage that infected and lysed a bacterial cell

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the process of latency in animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

The viral genome remains dormant in host cells, sometimes integrating into the host chromosome.

Question 11

Which of the following is a real-world example of a virus causing cancer in humans?

Accepted Answer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causing cervical cancer

Question 12

Which of the following is a correct statement about viroids?

Accepted Answer

They are small, circular pieces of RNA that infect plants and lack a capsid.

Question 13

A virus is classified as a generalist. Which of the following is most likely true about this virus?

Accepted Answer

It can infect many kinds of cells in many different hosts.

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why embryonated chicken eggs are commonly used for culturing viruses?

Accepted Answer

They are inexpensive, free of contaminating microbes, and provide a nourishing environment.

Question 15

Which of the following is a key difference between the replication of bacteriophages and animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

Animal viruses may enter host cells by membrane fusion or endocytosis, while bacteriophages inject their genome.

Question 16

A patient is diagnosed with a prion disease. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of disease progression?

Accepted Answer

Abnormal prion proteins induce misfolding of normal proteins, leading to neuronal death.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the function of viral capsids?

Accepted Answer

They protect viral nucleic acid and aid in attachment to host cells.

Question 18

A virus is found to have a segmented, double-stranded RNA genome. Which of the following is most likely true about its replication?

Accepted Answer

The positive-sense strand is translated as mRNA, while the negative-sense strand serves as a template for more mRNA.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct statement about continuous cell cultures used for virus cultivation?

Accepted Answer

They are derived from cancer cells and can divide indefinitely.

Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards