Multiple choice

Which of the following statements does not characterise viruses?

  1. The morphology of a virus is determined by the number of the protomeres.

  2. Viral nucleic acid is enclosed in a capsid made up of protein subunits called protomeres.

  3. All viruses undergo a replication cycle in their human host cell.

  4. During the viral replication cycle, an accumulation of mature viruses, incomplete viruses and viral parts occurs within the cell.

  5. A virally-infected cell generally presents three signals that it is infected.

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A Correct answer
Explanation

The morphology of a virus is determined by the arrangement of the protomeres. When protomeres aggregate into units of five or six (capsomeres) and then condense to form a geometric figure having 20 equal triangular faces and 12 apices, the virus is said to have icosahedral (cubic) morphology. When protomeres aggregate to form a capped tube, they are said to have helical morphology. Any other arrangement of the protomeres results in a complex morphology.