Final answer:
The statement regarding viruses containing both DNA and RNA is false; they contain only one or the other. Viruses are classified into DNA viruses and RNA viruses, and are only visible with an electron microscope because of their tiny size.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that some viruses can contain both DNA and RNA is false. In the realm of virology, viruses are known to contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, but not both simultaneously. Viruses are acellular particles that require a host cell to replicate, and they carry their genetic information in the form of either DNA or RNA, which is enclosed within a protein coat.
Most viruses have genomes that are either single-stranded or double-stranded, and these can be either linear or circular. The virus's nucleic acid is the core component that contains the viral genome or total genetic content. Although viruses depend on host cells for replication, they come equipped with genetic information solely in the form of RNA or DNA to produce essential proteins not provided by the host.
Furthermore, viruses are extremely small and usually only visible under an electron microscope due to their minuscule size. Due to their differing nucleic acid types, viruses are categorized into two major classes: DNA viruses and RNA viruses. Examples of viruses include those that infect bacterial, plant, animal, and even fungal cells, confirming that scientists have identified viruses capable of infecting fungal cells.