2026/2027 Comprehensive Exam Review | 250+
Original Practice Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales Final Exam Success Study
Guide | PDF |Guaranteed Pass
Can viruses be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic microorganisms? -
✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-Neither
What is an obligate intracellular parasite? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-One that
cannot replicate on its own, requires a host cell
What is a viral capsid? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-a membrane like protective
structure that contains genetic material
What is the viral envelope, and what does the presence (or absence) of it tell
you about the type of virus? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-surrounds the viral
capsid, and serves as an additional barrier to the external environment. majority
of animal viruses are enveloped, majority of plant or bacteria-infecting viruses
are not.
What type of microscope would be used to study the shape of a viral capsid? -
✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-electron microscope because viruses are so small
, How does the viral envelope both aid in cell entry as well as hide it from being
detected by the immune system? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-It contains
necessary proteins required for interaction with host cells. It's derived from host
cell membrane, this camouflages the virus and lowers the likelihood of immune
detection by making it appear similar to the host cell.
What must happen before viral replication of its genome can occur? -
✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-attachment and entry
Describe the basic steps of the viral life cycle. - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-1.
Attachment: Viral receptors bind to host proteins on the surface
2. Entry: virus fuses with host membrane and enters the cell
3. Uncoating: viral capsid disassembles
4. Replication: viral genome provides the blueprint to make copies of itself
5. Exit: New viruses are produced and leave the cell
6. New infection: Newly produced viruses leave host cell and go on to infect new
cells.
What is a bacteriophage? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-virus that infects
bacteria
What structural aspects make bacteriophages distinct from viruses that infect
either animals or plants? - ✅🌹CORRECT ANSWER-icosahedral capsid head
group and a helical tail with fibrous extensions that aid in binding host cells.