Final Answer:
Viral nucleic acid replication occurs within host cells, not bacterium, and the assembly of viral particles typically takes place inside the host cell. The viral nucleic acid is synthesized using the host cell's machinery. The viral protein coat is usually assembled around the viral nucleic acid inside the host cell, and the fully formed viral particles are then released to infect new cells. So, the given statement is False.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given statement is false. In viral replication, the synthesis of viral nucleic acid does not occur inside a bacterium but rather within a host cell. Viruses lack the cellular machinery for reproduction and, as obligate intracellular parasites, they rely on host cells to replicate. The process typically involves the viral genetic material taking control of the host cell's machinery to produce new viral components.
During viral replication, the viral nucleic acid is replicated and transcribed within the host cell, using the host cell's resources and enzymes. Meanwhile, the viral protein coat, or capsid, is synthesized separately. The assembly of new viral particles occurs within the host cell, where the newly replicated viral nucleic acid is encapsulated by the newly synthesized viral protein coat. This assembly process is a critical step in the viral life cycle.
Once the assembly is complete, the host cell is often lysed, releasing the newly formed viruses to infect other cells. It's important to note that the specificity of viral infections is determined by the interaction between viral surface proteins and host cell receptors.