What is a virion?
AA host cell that has just been lysed
BA protein subunit that builds a capsid
CA viral gene sitting in host DNA
DA single virus particle outside a cell
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. A single virus particle outside a cell
1. A virion is one individual virus particle.
2. It is the infectious form the virus takes while it is outside a host cell.
3. A capsid subunit is a capsomere, and viral DNA inside a host genome is a prophage, so neither of those is a virion.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.1 Viral Evolution, Morphology, and Classification_
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