Question

question 2 of 10
why would a drug that damages capsids help treat a viral infection?
a. capsids give viruses more genetic variation.
b. binary fission requires the use of a capsid.
c. without capsids, viruses could not replicate.
d. viruses reproduce asexually using capsids.

Explanation:

The capsid is the protein shell of a virus. It protects the viral genome and is essential for the virus to attach to host cells and inject its genetic material (a key step in replication). If a drug damages capsids, the virus can't perform these replication - related functions.

• Option A: Capsids do not give viruses more genetic variation. Genetic variation in viruses usually comes from mutation of their genetic material (DNA or RNA), not from capsids.
• Option B: Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes (like bacteria), not a process related to viral capsids. Viruses do not use binary fission.
• Option D: Viruses do not reproduce asexually using capsids. They hijack host cell machinery for replication. The capsid is mainly for protection and initial interaction with the host cell, not the actual replication mechanism.

Answer:

C. Without capsids, viruses could not replicate.