Chapter 6, Problem 1MCQ

A virus is a tiny infectious

1. a. cell.
2. b. living thing.
3. c. particle.
4. d. nucleic acid.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Viruses are the small infectious particle that causes severe or mild infections in humans, plants, and animals. Viruses are not alive when they are present outside the host body. They need a host to reproduce or replicate. A virus contains a capsid (coat protein), nucleic acid, and an envelope (lipid membrane)

Answer to Problem 1MCQ

Correct answer:

A virus is a tiny microscopic infectious particle. Therefore, option (c) is correct.

Option (c) is given as “particle”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reason for the correct statement:

Viruses are the lifeless molecule and unable to multiply independently from the host cell. They are not living, but when they are present in a host they possess certain processes of the living organismbut do not exhibit most of the processes. Therefore, viruses can be better described as the infectious particles rather than organisms.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (a) is given as “cell”.

Viruses are not made of cells. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (b) is given as “living thing”.

Viruses are not living things because they are unable to multiply or grow in number independently from the host cell. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “nucleic acid”.

Viruses do contain a nucleic acid, but they cannot be defined as an infectious nucleic acid because it is one of a component of a virus. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a),(b), and(d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Hence, viruses can be defined as the tiny infectious particles.