Science Question, need an answer asap.

Question

What's the simplest virus? Briefly describe it.

Answer 1

Hi Brianna,

While Steve gave you a good overview of what a virus is - your question is a really interesting one, and I can't help myself but answer it (it's what my PhD is in!)

It really depends on your definition of "simplest". I think I would define it as smallest genome (RNA or DNA).

For the absolute smallest virus genome you're looking at the hepatitis D virus - weighing in at about 1,700 nucleotides. Coding for just five proteins!

If you want to chat more about viruses - feel free to message me!

Answer 2

1. The simplest viruses contain only enough RNA or DNA to encode four proteins.
2. A virus is made up of a core of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protective coat called a capsid which is made up of protein.
3. Sometimes the capsid is surrounded by an additional spikey coat called the envelope (think Corona :) ).
4. Briefly, a virus is a small parasite. It needs a host because it cannot reproduce by itself. In short, this is how a functions:
5. A virus infects a susceptible cell (meaning it found a way inside of a cell), after that it can direct that cell’s machinery to produce more of itself (i.e more viruses.)
6. Most viruses have either RNA or DNA as their genetic material. The viruse’s nucleic acid (its RNA or DNA) may be single- or double-stranded (as described above.)
7. As a reminder, a virus consists of the nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) and an outer shell of protein.

Hope that is clear and that it helps!

Thumbs up if that was helpful.

Thank you :)

Answer 3

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that regenerate by using the metabolic machinery of a host cell. It is not alive and does not have the characteristics of viable cells.It consists of a protein shell containing a genome.