Final answer:
A viral genome must include genes necessary for synthesizing the viral capsid; these are vital for structure and infectivity. Viruses use host cell machinery for replication but include their own genetic instructions for protein structures like the capsid.
Step-by-step explanation:
At a minimum, a viral genome must encode the information necessary for the synthesis of the viral capsid. The capsid is the protein shell of a virus that encases and protects the viral genome. It is essential for the structure, stability, and infection process of the virus. Viruses rely on the host cell's machinery to replicate, but they must bring the genetic blueprint for their own structural proteins, such as those that form the capsid.
Furthermore, it is not the role of the viral genome to produce new ribosomes as those are created by the host cell. Similarly, a virus does not regulate host cell actions more than is necessary for its own replication and does not play a role in the packing of mature virus particles; this process is primarily governed by the self-assembly properties of viral components and interactions with host cell factors.at a minimum, a viral genome must include genes for synthesizing the viral capsid (option c) to ensure proper structure and reproduction of the virus. The synthesis of the viral genome and mRNA allows for the production of viral enzymes and structural proteins, which are then assembled into new virions.