You have isolated the genome from a novel virus and would like to determine its composition.You have three tubes,each containing one of these substances: 1. a protein that degrades dsDNA (DNase,tube 1)
2) a protein that degrades ssRNA (RNase,tube 2)
3) a protease that degrades viral proteins (tube 3)
You add some of your novel genome to tubes 1,2,and 3.The genome is degraded in tube 2,but not in tube 1 or tube 3.Based on your knowledge of genome types that have been found in viruses,what could the genome's composition be?
A)dsDNA
B)ssDNA
C)ssRNA
D)protein
E)None of the above seem likely.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the genome is degraded by RNase in tube 2 but not by DNase in tube 1 suggests that the genome is ssRNA. The fact that the protease in tube 3 did not degrade the genome suggests that the genome is not a protein. Therefore, option C (ssRNA) is the best choice.

You Have Isolated the Genome from a Novel Virus and Would