Question

In coliphage viruses, the nucleic acid is
A. RNA only
B. DNA only
C. DNA or RNA
D. DNA and RNA

Answer 1

Hint:-Viruses are infectious agents that cause diseases of small size and composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants or bacteria.
Coliphages are viruses that infect E. coli and are proposed as potential tracers of sewage pollution in aquatic environments.

Complete Answer:-Coliphages are microbial indicators so they show the presence of microbes and can be used to monitor contamination of drinking water.
Coliphages are grouped as somatic or male specific. The somatic coliphages infect E.coli cell walls and are DNA viruses whereas male specific coliphages are either DNA or RNA viruses that infect through fertility of Enterobacteriaceae.
Coliphage T2T2 is a lytic phage of E.coli . It is composed of an icosahedral proteinaceous hard, collar and tail. Head contains dsDNA packed as genetic material. It has two complementary strands.
Viruses may contain RNA or DNA as their genetic material. The nucleic acid may contain single strand or double strand.
A coliphage is an well known example of bacteriophage that infects Escherichia coli. Coliphage has only DNA as genetic material.

RNA is not nucleic acid which contains genetic material. So, this option is not correct.
In coliphage viruses, nucleic acid is DNA only as discussed above. Therefore, this option is correct.
Only one is a nucleic acid that is DNA . RNA does not contain genetic material in coliphages. Hence, this is not a correct option.

Both DNA and RNA are not nucleic acids. So, this option is also incorrect.

Note:- Coliphages are thought to be good indicators of fecal pollution because they model the fate and transport of at least the enteroviruses. Coliphages were only used for recreational purposes and known to be contaminated with domestic sewage.