alleryStart learning →Viruses may use which molecule as their genetic material?
AOnly RNA, and never any DNA
BEither DNA or RNA, not both
CAlways DNA and RNA together
DOnly protein, never a nucleic acid
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Either DNA or RNA, not both
1. Nearly all living organisms use DNA as their genetic material.
2. Viruses are the exception, and a virus may use either DNA or RNA as its genome.
3. The virus core holds that genome, which may be single-stranded or double-stranded and linear or circular.
4. A single virus does not carry both nucleic acids at once, so the combined option is wrong.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 21 "Viruses", section 21.1 Viral Evolution, Morphology, and Classification_
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