Question

Short Answer1

Describe what a virus is and the macromolecules that make up a virus. Include what all viruses have in common and what are some unique features of specific viruses. Describe the structure of the coronavirus, specifically describing which macromolecules are present.

Answer 1

Question

Virus are the submicroscopic infectious agent that depend on host body for growth and survival  . The virus are made up of 2 macromolecules. One is nucleic acid and other one is protein. All virus have mainly two structural components(common to all virus) :

I. Nucleic acid: virus could have either DNA or RNA as the genetic material.

II. Capsid : virus have protein cover around their genetic material or nucleic acid known as Capsid.

Some virus have third structure too (specific to some virus)

III. Envelope: this is made up of lipid and cover the Capsid.

The viruses also differ in the genetic material and shape of the Capsid. The Capsid is made up of protein and genetic material could be single stranded DNA, double stranded DNA, single stranded RNA or double stranded RNA.  

Coronavirus is having single stranded RNA as the genetic material and have Capsid covering the RNA. They also have envelope surrounding the Capsid. Their genome size is approximate 26 to 32 kilobases. They also have spikes which look like club shape and project from their surface.