Question

A virion is composed of

a) Lipid, protein, and either RNA or DNA.
b) Protein and either RNA or DNA.
c) Protein and both RNA and DNA.
d) Protein, either RNA or DNA, and possibly lipid.

Answer 1

A virion is composed of DNA or RNA (never both), surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid, and sometimes a lipid envelope derived from the host cell. Viruses lack cellular structure and are classified by their structure, means of mRNA production, and the morphology of their virions.

Step-by-step explanation:

A virion is composed of DNA or RNA surrounded by a coat of protein, and in some cases, may also include a lipid envelope. This structure is precise because a virion contains either DNA or RNA, never both, as the genetic material. The protein coat, known as a capsid, is built from protein subunits called capsomeres. Some viruses have evolved to acquire an additional outer envelope made of protein and phospholipid membranes derived from the host cell, which sometimes includes viral glycoproteins. Viruses vary in structure and are classified by how they produce their mRNA, among other characteristics. They lack a cellular structure and therefore do not have components such as organelles, ribosomes, or plasma membranes. The most pronounced morphologic differences among viral families are their various shapes and the complexity of their virions, which do not correlate with the complexity of their hosts.