Most Viruses with Helical Capsid Symmetry Contain _______ as Their

Question

Most viruses with helical capsid symmetry contain _______ as their nucleic acid.
A)single-stranded DNA
B)single-stranded RNA
C)double-stranded DNA
D)double-stranded RNA
E)RNA/DNA dimer

Accepted Answer

Most viruses with helical capsid symmetry contain single-stranded RNA as their nucleic acid. Helical symmetry refers to the spiral arrangement of protein subunits in the capsid, which accommodates a linear nucleic acid molecule such as RNA. Double-stranded DNA or RNA would not fit in the confined space of the helix, and RNA/DNA dimer is not a common type of viral nucleic acid. Single-stranded DNA viruses usually have icosahedral capsids.