What is the structure of a typical virus?

Answer 1

A virus is basically DNA or RNA (single- or double-stranded)surrounded by a protein capsule.

Typically the protein coat, or capsid, of an individual virus particle, or virion, is composed of multiple copies of one or several types of protein subunits, or capsomeres. Some viruses contain enzymes, and some have an outer membranous envelope. Many viruses have striking geometrically regular shapes, with helical structure as in tobacco mosaic virus, polyhedral (often icosahedral) symmetry as in herpes virus, or more complex mixtures of arrangements as in large viruses, such as the pox viruses and the larger bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages . Certain viruses, such as bacteriophages, have complex protein tails.

The inner viral genetic material -the nucleic acid- may be double stranded, with two complementary strands, or single stranded; it may be deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). The nucleic acid specifies information for the synthesis of from a few to as many as 50 different proteins, depending on the type of virus.

Answer 2

A virus can have one of two structures. These are:

•Helical virus. A helical virus is rod- or thread-shaped. The virus that causes rabies is a helical virus.

•Icosahedral virus. An icosahedral virus is spherically shaped. Viruses that cause poliomyelitis and herpes simplex are icosahedral viruses.

Answer 3

a typical virus has a core of DNA or RNA and a protein coat

Answer 4

they all have a protein coat and an inner core that protects the genetic material

Answer 5

The basic structure of a virus is a particle with a protein coat with DNA or RNA inside.
A protein coat and an inner core protecting the genetic material.

Answer 6

a protein coat, and a membrane envelope

Answer 7

a capsid and genetic material