Question

What information do viral genes contain?

Answer 1

Instructions for making more viruses.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option (C) instructions for making more viruses.

Viruses are the tiny infectious particles that survive and reproduce in the presence of other host cells. The genetic material of viruses can be the DNA or the RNA. Most of the viruses have RNA as the genetic material.

The genetic material of viruses have instuctions to make new viruses. When a virus infects the host cell, the protein coat of the virus called the capsid surrounding the genetic material is removed releasing the viral genetic material. The genetic material then synthesizes an mRNA (transcription) which is used to make the host cell sythesize the viral components followed by the synthesis of the proteins (translation). Thus, the new genetic material and the proteins formed is assembled and the new viruses are released.