Virus Structure and Classification by Genome Type · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Read the genome, predict the first move

Science · Microbiology · ages 19-20
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A plus strand enters the cell. What happens first?

    • Translated straight away
    • Burned for fuel
    • Ignored by the cell

  2. What genome does a single virus particle carry?

    • Both genomes in every particle
    • One genome type per particle
    • No genome at all

  3. A minus strand enters the cell. What happens first?

    • Translated at once
    • Folded into a shell
    • Copied into readable form first

  4. How does entry differ between wrapped and bare particles?

    • Wrapped ones fuse, bare ones break in
    • Bare ones fuse, wrapped ones vanish
    • Both enter exactly the same way

  5. Wrapped viruses are fragile outside a host and need close contact.

    Circle one:   True   False

  6. Why do viruses fail the two cell tests?

    • They photosynthesize
    • They show order but cannot live solo
    • They divide like bacteria

  7. A friend says the RNA to DNA stitcher translates directly. Right?

    • No, it converts RNA to DNA and stitches it in
    • Yes, direct translation is its trick
    • Yes, wrappers decide everything

  8. A new particle carries single stranded DNA. What must happen first inside?

    • Translate at once
    • Copy from DNA first
    • Doubled before reading
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Read the genome, predict the first move W1-mt_u2-ecQEwwn-s1

  1. Translated straight away · Ready made messages read like the cell's own, so building starts at once.
  2. One genome type per particle · Each particle carries DNA or RNA in single or double strands, never both.
  3. Copied into readable form first · Unreadable strands arrive backwards, so copying comes before building.
  4. Wrapped ones fuse, bare ones break in · Membranes blend with membranes, while bare shells force a more direct entry.
  5. True · The wrapper falls apart as it dries, so close contact is needed to spread.
  6. They show order but cannot live solo · Order plus genes without metabolism or solo division is the virus verdict.
  7. No, it converts RNA to DNA and stitches it in · It carries a copying enzyme, writes DNA from RNA, and joins the host genome.
  8. Doubled before reading · Single DNA strands cannot be read yet, so doubling comes before anything else.
Worksheet · LightMySky