How are the size and shape of a virus determined?
Size and shape. The amount and arrangement of the proteins and nucleic acid of viruses determine their size and shape. The nucleic acid and proteins of each class of viruses assemble themselves into a structure called a nucleoprotein, or nucleocapsid.
How big is a virus compared to a bacteria?
Size Viruses are usually much smaller than bacteria with the vast majority being submicroscopic. While most viruses range in size from 5 to 300 nanometers (nm), in recent years a number of giant viruses, including Mimiviruses and Pandoraviruses with a diameter of 0.4 micrometers (µm), have been identified.
What are the dimensions of a Poxviridae virus?
Viruses of these two families are icosahedrons and contain nucleic acids with limited genetic information. Viruses of the family Poxviridae are about 250 to 400 nm in their longest dimension, and they are neither polygons nor filaments.
What kind of structure does a helical virus have?
Helical viruses consist of nucleic acid surrounded by a hollow protein cylinder or capsid and possessing a helical structure. Polyhedral viruses consist of nucleic acid surrounded by a polyhedral (many-sided) shell or capsid, usually in the form of an icosahedron.
What are the four shapes of viruses?
Viruses come in many shapes and sizes, but these are consistent and distinct for each viral family. In general, the shapes of viruses are classified into four groups: filamentous, isometric (or icosahedral), enveloped, and head and tail. Filamentous viruses are long and cylindrical.
What is the scariest virus?
Petya is the scariest computer virus yet for Microsoft Windows users. Here’s what to do about it. A fast-moving, international computer virus called Petya is taking down corporate networks that run mainly on Microsoft Windows software.
What is the shape of a complex virus?
The complete complex of nucleic acid and protein coat of a virus particle is called as virus nucleo-capsid. Structure of capsid give the symmetry to the virus. Virus particle may be either cubicl or helical or binal or complex symmetry.
What is the general structure of a virus?
A basic structure of virus is nucleic acid core (either DNA or RNA but not both) surrounded by protein coat. Central core of nucleic acid of a virus is called genome and the protein coat surrounding is called as capsid .
