How are new viruses made? (1 point)
A. • asexual reproduction
B. sexual reproduction
C. • viral DNA or RNA copied by a host cell
D. • viral DNA or RNA copied by viral cells
C. viral DNA or RNA copied by a host cell
New viruses are made through the process of viral DNA or RNA being copied by a host cell. This is the answer for option C.
To understand how new viruses are made, we need to understand the basic process of viral replication. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own, so they rely on a host cell to copy their genetic material and produce new virus particles. Here's how it works:
The correct answer is C. viral DNA or RNA copied by a host cell.
When a virus infects a host cell, it inserts its genetic material (either DNA or RNA) into the host cell's cytoplasm. The viral genetic material takes control of the host cell's cellular machinery and hijacks its resources to replicate itself.
In the case of DNA viruses, the viral DNA integrates into the host cell's DNA. The host cell's enzymes then read and copy the viral DNA, producing multiple copies of the viral genome. This process is similar to how the host cell replicates its own DNA during cell division.
For RNA viruses, the viral RNA serves as a template for the host cell's enzymes to produce new viral RNA strands. This process is known as transcription. Once the new viral RNA strands are synthesized, they can be used as templates to produce viral proteins and replicate the viral genome.
In both cases, the newly synthesized viral genetic material and viral proteins assemble to form new virus particles, also known as virions. These newly formed virions can then go on to infect other cells and spread the infection.
It's important to note that viruses do not undergo sexual reproduction (option B) or asexual reproduction (option A) in the same way that organisms do. Instead, they rely on the host cell's machinery to produce new virus particles.
So, the correct answer is C. viral DNA or RNA copied by a host cell.