Question:
Which of the following structural component is found in all animal viruses?
Which of the following structural component is found in all animal viruses?
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All viruses, without exception, must have a genome and a capsid.
The combination of the genome and the capsid is called the nucleocapsid.
Envelopes, DNA, and spikes are only present in specific viral families.
The combination of the genome and the capsid is called the nucleocapsid.
Envelopes, DNA, and spikes are only present in specific viral families.
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
- Envelope
- DNA
- Nucleocapsid
- Spikes
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites with a simple structural organization.
While cellular life forms possess complex organelles, membranes, and metabolic machinery, a virus particle (virion) is fundamentally composed of genetic material surrounded by a protective protein coat.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each of the listed viral structural components to identify which one is present in all animal viruses.
Envelope (A): An envelope is a lipid bilayer membrane acquired from the host cell during viral budding.
Many animal viruses are non-enveloped (or "naked") viruses (e.g., Parvoviruses, Picornaviruses, and Adenoviruses) and completely lack an envelope. Therefore, it is not present in all viruses.
DNA (B): The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA, but never both.
Many animal viruses possess RNA as their genetic material (e.g., Influenza virus, Rabies virus, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus). Therefore, DNA is not found in all viruses.
Spikes (D): Spikes are glycoprotein projections embedded in the viral envelope.
Since non-enveloped viruses do not possess an envelope, they generally do not have typical envelope spikes on their outer surface. Thus, spikes are not universal.
Nucleocapsid (C): The basic unit of a virion is the nucleocapsid.
The nucleocapsid is the composite structure formed by the viral nucleic acid genome (either DNA or RNA) packaged inside its protective protein shell, known as the capsid.
Because every single virus must possess a genome to replicate and a capsid to protect that genome, the nucleocapsid is the fundamental structural unit present in all animal viruses.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (C).
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites with a simple structural organization.
While cellular life forms possess complex organelles, membranes, and metabolic machinery, a virus particle (virion) is fundamentally composed of genetic material surrounded by a protective protein coat.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each of the listed viral structural components to identify which one is present in all animal viruses.
Envelope (A): An envelope is a lipid bilayer membrane acquired from the host cell during viral budding.
Many animal viruses are non-enveloped (or "naked") viruses (e.g., Parvoviruses, Picornaviruses, and Adenoviruses) and completely lack an envelope. Therefore, it is not present in all viruses.
DNA (B): The genetic material of a virus can be either DNA or RNA, but never both.
Many animal viruses possess RNA as their genetic material (e.g., Influenza virus, Rabies virus, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus). Therefore, DNA is not found in all viruses.
Spikes (D): Spikes are glycoprotein projections embedded in the viral envelope.
Since non-enveloped viruses do not possess an envelope, they generally do not have typical envelope spikes on their outer surface. Thus, spikes are not universal.
Nucleocapsid (C): The basic unit of a virion is the nucleocapsid.
The nucleocapsid is the composite structure formed by the viral nucleic acid genome (either DNA or RNA) packaged inside its protective protein shell, known as the capsid.
Because every single virus must possess a genome to replicate and a capsid to protect that genome, the nucleocapsid is the fundamental structural unit present in all animal viruses.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (C).
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