Question

What is true about viruses?

• A. They can be crystallised and stored for several years.
• B. Viruses do not occur as parasites in living cells.
• C. They can be cultured on artificial media.
• D. They are devoid of genetic material of their own.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

They can be crystallised and stored for several years.

Crystallization is referred to the process of transforming viral components into organized solid particles. It is used to study the structural characteristics of viral components by using X-Ray crystallography technique. These crystallized viruses can be stored for several years. In 1935, tobacco mosaic virus became the first virus to be crystallized. So, the correct answer is 'They can be crystallised and stored for several years'.