Which describes the possible genomes of viruses?

Which describes the possible genomes of viruses?

• A. Single-stranded RNA, double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, or double-stranded DNA
• B. Only double-stranded DNA
• C. Only double-stranded RNA
• D. Only single-stranded DNA

Answer: (A)

Viruses can carry their genetic material as either RNA or DNA, and that material can be single-stranded or double-stranded. Because of this, all four genome types are observed in viruses: single-stranded RNA, double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, and double-stranded DNA. For instance, coronaviruses and many other RNA viruses use single-stranded RNA; influenza viruses are a type of single-stranded RNA genome with negative sense; rotaviruses have double-stranded RNA; parvoviruses have single-stranded DNA; and adenoviruses or herpesviruses have double-stranded DNA. Some viruses replicate through a DNA intermediate or use reverse transcription, but their genome still falls into one of these four configurations. Therefore, the description that covers all possible viral genomes is the one that includes RNA and DNA, in both single- and double-stranded forms. The other options are too restrictive because they imply viruses are limited to just one type of genome.

Viruses can carry their genetic material as either RNA or DNA, and that material can be single-stranded or double-stranded. Because of this, all four genome types are observed in viruses: single-stranded RNA, double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, and double-stranded DNA. For instance, coronaviruses and many other RNA viruses use single-stranded RNA; influenza viruses are a type of single-stranded RNA genome with negative sense; rotaviruses have double-stranded RNA; parvoviruses have single-stranded DNA; and adenoviruses or herpesviruses have double-stranded DNA. Some viruses replicate through a DNA intermediate or use reverse transcription, but their genome still falls into one of these four configurations. Therefore, the description that covers all possible viral genomes is the one that includes RNA and DNA, in both single- and double-stranded forms. The other options are too restrictive because they imply viruses are limited to just one type of genome.