Question

Which virus' virions have packaged nucleic acids that can be used directly by ribosomes to make proteins?

1. Herpesvirus (class I)

2. Parvovirus (class II)

3. Reovirus (class III)

4. Poliovirus (class IV)

5. Influenza Virus (class V)

6. Retrovirus (class VI)

7. Hepadnavirus (class VII)

Answer 1

A ribosome is a cellular machinery that uses RNA strands to make proteins.

In the above question, we are asked which of these virions has nucleic acid that can be directly used by the ribosome. Now, ribosomes only use RNA ann that rules out the possibility of any DNA virus to fulfill the said criteria.

We are left with the only option of RNA viruses. Now, RNA viruses are also of two types:-

1. Positive Sense RNA virus- These viruses have the RNA strand which can be directly used by the ribosome as mRNA
2. Negative Sense RNA virus- These viruses have the RNA strand which must be converted into its complementary strand before it can be used as mRNA.

So, the answer to the above question would be those viruses which are positive-sense RNA viruses. Out of the given options Positive sense RNA viruses are:

• Reovirus (class III)
• Poliovirus (class IV)
• Retrovirus (class VI)

So, these are our answers.