what 4 characteristics are used to classify viruses?
1. nucleic acid genome2. symmetry of the capsid3. presence/absense of lipid envelope4. dimensions of virion and capsid
Viruses are classified into different groups based on their physical, chemical, and genetic properties. Here are the four characteristics used to classify viruses:
1. Type of nucleic acid: Viruses can have either RNA or DNA as their genetic material. RNA viruses include retroviruses, influenza viruses, and coronaviruses, while DNA viruses include herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, and adenoviruses.
2. Genome structure: Viral genomes can be linear or circular, single-stranded or double-stranded, and can be divided into various segments. For example, influenza viruses have segmented RNA genomes, while herpesviruses have a linear DNA genome.
3. Morphology: The morphology of a virus refers to its shape and size. Viruses can be either icosahedral or helical in shape, and can range in size from 20 to 400 nanometers in diameter.
4. Host range: Different viruses have different host ranges, which refers to the range of species and cell types that a virus can infect. For example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can only infect human cells, while the rabies virus can infect a wide range of mammalian hosts.
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