Viral coats are built from protein subunits called

Viral coats are built from protein subunits called

• A. Capsids
• B. Nucleotides
• C. Capsomeres
• D. Lipids

Answer: (C)

Viral coats are the protein shells that surround the genome, called capsids. The individual protein subunits that assemble to form the capsid are capsomeres. These capsomeres come together to create the complete coat, which can have different shapes depending on the virus. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, not the coat; lipids form membranes, and while some viruses have envelopes, the shell itself is made from protein subunits. Therefore, capsomeres is the correct term for the subunits that build the viral coat.

Viral coats are the protein shells that surround the genome, called capsids. The individual protein subunits that assemble to form the capsid are capsomeres. These capsomeres come together to create the complete coat, which can have different shapes depending on the virus. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, not the coat; lipids form membranes, and while some viruses have envelopes, the shell itself is made from protein subunits. Therefore, capsomeres is the correct term for the subunits that build the viral coat.