Which statement best describes viral reproduction?(1 point)
Responses
Viruses reproduce independent of cell based organisms.
Viruses reproduce independent of cell based organisms.
The lysogenic phase of viral replication causes cell death while the lytic phase of viral replication results in prophage formation.
The lysogenic phase of viral replication causes cell death while the lytic phase of viral replication results in prophage formation.
Viruses may contain DNA or RNA.
Viruses may contain DNA or RNA.
Viral nucleic acid is inserted into a host cell where it may replicate immediately or become dormant until a later time.
Viral nucleic acid is inserted into a host cell where it may replicate immediately or become dormant until a later time.
The correct answer is: Viral nucleic acid is inserted into a host cell where it may replicate immediately or become dormant until a later time.
The statement "Viruses may contain DNA or RNA" best describes viral reproduction.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand how viruses replicate and the different components they may contain.
First, viruses are considered obligatory intracellular parasites, which means they cannot reproduce without a host cell. They rely on the host cell's machinery to replicate and produce new virus particles.
Viruses can have either DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid) as their genetic material. This genetic material contains the instructions for the virus's replication.
When a virus infects a host cell, its nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) is inserted into the host cell. This nucleic acid can replicate immediately, using the host cell's machinery to produce new virus particles. Alternatively, it can become dormant (in a latent state) in the host cell until a later time, when it may become activated and start replicating.
Therefore, the statement "Viruses may contain DNA or RNA" accurately describes viral reproduction, as it highlights the fact that viruses can have either DNA or RNA as their genetic material and that this nucleic acid is inserted into a host cell for replication.