viruses are considered the smallest infectious agents, ranging from 20 to 300 nm, equivalent to the size of the smallest characterized bacteria.

bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacterial cells. Phages, as they are known, are an important tool for gene cloning in molecular biology.

virion is the term used for complete viral particles, which constitute infectious forms of the virus.

viruses contain only one type of nucleic acid, which can be DNA or RNA. However, there are those that use both DNA and RNA during different stages of their life cycle.

viruses have a capsid, which usually consists of a protein envelope whose function is to wrap and stabilize the viral nucleic acid, as well as to facilitate its adhesion and penetration into host cells.

Viruses were detected long before the technique of crystallization allowed American researcher Wendell Stanley, in 1935, to demonstrate the structure of TMV (tobacco mosaic virus). For example, in 1883, German researcher Adolf Mayer found that it was possible to transmit the disease to healthy tobacco plants simply by contacting the sap of a diseased plant with healthy leaves. Subsequently, several assays were conducted to characterize the viruses, and currently, our knowledge of these agents allows us to state, EXCEPT:

Question about Virus

Subject Biology

Biology

Source UFAM

UFAM

Topic Virus

Virus

Difficulty Medium

Medium

(UFAM 2017) - Question Medium of Biology