Question

Unlike the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage, the reproductive cycle of an animal virus

• A. usually lyses the host cell on release of new virions
• B. involves the entry of the capsid into the cytoplasm of the host cell
• C. involves the incorporation of viral DNA into the host cells gernome
• D. requires the action of reverse transcriptase

Answer 1

The correct option is B involves the entry of the capsid into the cytoplasm of the host cell

The nucleic acid of bacteriophages enters the host without capsid, leaving the capsid outside the cell. Plant and animal viruses enter the cells differently. They enter by the process of endocytosis, in which the cell membrane surrounds and engulfs the entire virus. Hence, the entire virus including capsid enters the cell. Once inside the cell, the viral capsid is degraded and the viral nucleic acid is released, which then becomes available for replication and transcription.

So, the correct option is 'involves the entry of the capsid into the cytoplasm of the host cell'.