Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumViruses: Structure and Characteristics

During infection, a bacteriophage injects its genetic material into the host bacterial cell while leaving its protein capsid structure attached to the exterior of the cell wall.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. Bacteriophages inject only their nucleic acid into the host bacterium, while the protein capsid coat remains outside on the host cell wall.
The statement is true because bacteriophages use their tail apparatus to penetrate the bacterial cell wall and inject nucleic acid, leaving the protein capsid shell exterior to the host cell.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the infection mechanism and structural function of bacteriophages.
The tail fibers bind to bacterial cell surface receptors, and the tail sheath contracts to breach the cell wall.
Understanding structural components helps explain how genetic material is delivered into the host.
2
Determine the physical location of the viral genetic material versus the protein capsid after entry.
The nucleic acid is injected into the bacterial cytoplasm, while the protein coat shell remains attached externally.
Unlike animal viruses that enter via endocytosis or fusion, bacteriophages introduce only their genome into the bacterium.

Key Concept

Bacteriophage Structural Function and Genome Injection
Rate this question

Topics

Viruses: Structure and Characteristics

More questions from this topic