With respect to viruses, consider the following statements:1. Viruses...
- A virus is a small infectious agent that can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.
- Viruses are usually smaller than bacteria. In fact, the largest virus is smaller than the smallest bacterium. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- Their presence can be determined only by observing the effect they have on their hosts, or by viewing them under an electronic microscope.
- They replicate only inside living cells. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
- It is impossible to culture outside the specific host cells.
- Unlike other microorganisms, viruses do not have a cellular structure. Therefore, they lack most of the components of cells, such as organelles, ribosomes, and the plasma membrane. Hence statement 3 is correct.
With respect to viruses, consider the following statements:1. Viruses...
Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'b) 1 and 3 only'. Let's understand the statements one by one.
1. Viruses are usually bigger than bacteria:
This statement is not correct. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. While bacteria are considered to be living organisms, viruses are considered to be non-living particles. Bacteria can be seen under a light microscope, whereas viruses are too small to be seen using a light microscope. Typically, bacteria range in size from 0.2 to 2 micrometers, while viruses range in size from 20 to 300 nanometers.
2. Viruses can replicate outside living cells and can be cultured outside specific host cells:
This statement is not correct. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, which means they can only replicate inside the living cells of a host organism. They cannot replicate outside of a host cell. Viruses lack the machinery required for carrying out metabolic processes and reproduction on their own. They rely on the cellular machinery of the host cell to reproduce and replicate.
3. Viruses do not have a cellular structure:
This statement is correct. Viruses are acellular, meaning they do not have a cellular structure. Unlike bacteria, which are single-celled organisms with a complete cellular structure, viruses are composed of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses also have an outer envelope made up of lipids. However, they lack the organelles and cellular machinery that make up the structure of living cells.
To summarize, the correct statements are:
1. Viruses are usually smaller than bacteria.
3. Viruses do not have a cellular structure.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'b) 1 and 3 only'.