TeXes Science Practice Test

Which statement about viruses is NOT true?

1. Viruses can have a dormant phase

2. Viruses reproduce inside host cells

3. After entering a cell, a virus immediately begins producing more viruses

4. Viruses infect by injecting their genetic material

The correct answer is: After entering a cell, a virus immediately begins producing more viruses

The statement that viruses reproduce inside host cells is accurate, highlighting the fundamental nature of viruses as obligate intracellular organisms. To reproduce, viruses must hijack a host cell's machinery, utilizing the cell's replication processes to create new viral particles. Regarding the assertion about dormant phases, it's true that some viruses can enter a latent or dormant state where they remain inactive inside a host cell for a period of time before reactivating and beginning the replication process. This ability is a characteristic seen in certain viral families, such as herpesviruses. The point about viruses injecting their genetic material into host cells is also correct. This mechanism is essential for viral replication, as the virus delivers its genetic material to the host cell to initiate the process that will eventually lead to the production of new viruses. However, the idea that a virus immediately begins producing more viruses after entering a cell may not apply to all viruses. Upon entry into the host, some viruses may integrate their genetic material into the host's genome and remain dormant for a period before triggering the production of new viral particles. Therefore, while many viruses initiate replication swiftly, this is not a universal characteristic, making this statement an inaccurate representation of viral behavior in all cases.