Viruses exist as both _____ and _____ viruses.

Viruses exist as both _____ and _____ viruses.

• A. DNA, RNA
• B. RNA, DNA
• C. Double-stranded; single-stranded
• D. Enveloped; nonenveloped

Answer: (A)

Viruses are classified by the type of genetic material they carry, so they exist as either DNA viruses or RNA viruses. This split is the most fundamental way we group them: some viruses have DNA genomes (which can be double- or single-stranded), while others have RNA genomes (which can also vary in polarity). This distinction explains why the correct answer is that viruses exist as both DNA and RNA viruses. The other pairings describe different attributes—like whether the genome is double- or single-stranded or whether the virion is enveloped or not—but they don’t capture the broad, primary division that defines most viral categories.

Viruses are classified by the type of genetic material they carry, so they exist as either DNA viruses or RNA viruses. This split is the most fundamental way we group them: some viruses have DNA genomes (which can be double- or single-stranded), while others have RNA genomes (which can also vary in polarity). This distinction explains why the correct answer is that viruses exist as both DNA and RNA viruses. The other pairings describe different attributes—like whether the genome is double- or single-stranded or whether the virion is enveloped or not—but they don’t capture the broad, primary division that defines most viral categories.