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Which one of the following statements about viruses is correct : -
A
Viruses possess their own metabolic system
B
All viruses contain both RNA and DNA
C
Viruses are obligate parasites
D
Nucleic acid of viruses is known as capsid
Detailed Solution
Viruses have no cellular organisation and no metabolic machinery of their own (no ribosomes or enzymes for energy production).
They can multiply only inside living host cells by using the host's machinery. So they are obligate (intracellular) parasites.
A virus contains either DNA or RNA, never both.
The protein coat of a virus is the capsid (made of capsomeres); the nucleic acid is the core.
So the correct statement is that viruses are obligate parasites.
They can multiply only inside living host cells by using the host's machinery. So they are obligate (intracellular) parasites.
A virus contains either DNA or RNA, never both.
The protein coat of a virus is the capsid (made of capsomeres); the nucleic acid is the core.
So the correct statement is that viruses are obligate parasites.