Final answer:
The statement that viruses trick host cells into uptake by endocytosis through attachment to surface molecules is true. Viruses utilize glycoproteins to bind to specific viral receptors like CD4 in T lymphocytes, facilitating entry and replication within the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: viruses do indeed trick the host cell by attaching to surface molecules that are normally taken up by endocytosis, allowing them to be actively transported into the cell. Viruses use specialized glycoproteins to adhere to cell-surface molecules called viral receptors on the host cell. These receptors typically have their own physiological roles but are exploited by viruses for entry.
For instance, the HIV virus uses the CD4 molecule on T lymphocytes to initiate infection. Once attached, the virus can penetrate the cell membrane through mechanisms like receptor-mediated endocytosis, subsequently replicating within the host cell. This specificity is key to the infection process, as viral receptors vary among different types of cells and species, influencing which cells and hosts a virus can infect.