Lesson 7 - Viruses / Myxomatosis

A nucleic acid genome made of DNA or RNA, tucked inside of the capsid.

All viruses have genetic material (a genome) made of nucleic acid. You, like all other cell-based life, use DNA as your genetic material. Viruses, on the other hand, may use either RNA or DNA, both of which are types of nucleic acid.

A protective protein shell, or capsid.

The capsid, or protein shell, of a virus is made up of many protein molecules (not just one big, hollow one).

A layer of membrane called the envelope (some but not all viruses)

In addition to the capsid, some viruses also have an external lipid membrane known as an envelope, which surrounds the entire capsid.

Viruses with envelopes do not provide instructions for the envelope lipids. Instead, they "borrow" a patch from the host membranes on their way out of the cell. Envelopes do, however, contain proteins that are specified by the virus, which often help viral particles bind to host cells.

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