6.2 Flashcards
1
Q
What is a capsid?
A
A protein coat that is made up of repeating units called capsomeres
2
Q
What is the benefit of using repeated structures in the capsid?
A
It minimises the genetic material required for coat production
3
Q
What covers the genetic material and protein coat in some viruses?
A
A protein envelope
4
Q
What are five structures a virus has?
A
Nucleic acid (genetic material) Capsomeres Envelope Tail Receptors
5
Q
What two things can viral genetic DNA be?
A
DNA and RNA
6
Q
What are bacteriophages?
A
Viruses that infect bacteria
7
Q
What is the function of viral RNA?
A
To direct the synthesis of the enzyme reverse transcriptase which proceeds to make DNA molecules corresponding to the viral genome
8
Q
What is the typical structure of a virus?
A
A geometric shape
