Is the following true or false?

Question

Viruses usually carry both DNA and RNA as well as a few enzymes needed to complete transcription.

Answer 1

The first part of the statement is false. Viruses have either RNA (single or double stranded) or DNA (single or double stranded).  However some viruses like HIV can carry enzymes with them for example -  integrase to integrate into the host genome.

Answer 2

False.

Viruses carry EITHER RNA or DNA.

The have no enzymes of their own and depend on host cell's enzymes.

Answer 3

False.

Viruses contain either DNA or RNA but Never both as their genetic material. Some viruses may carry genes for specific enzymes (example- retroviruses contain reverse transcriptase) but they essentially use host machinery for transcription of viral genome.

Answer 4

The answer that suggested that viruses carry transcription enzymes with them -- not true.  "integrase," part of the preintegration complex, is not a transcription enzyme.  The viral particle contains the nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA but not both) that *codes for* the proteins that make up the rest of the viral particle.  Those proteins required for transcription have to be hijacked upon entry of the viral genome into the host cell.  They don't already exist in protein form in the viral particle.  The host cell's machinery is responsible for generating the active virus from the viral genome.

So both parts of the answer are false.

Answer 5

False.  Viruses usually carry either DNA or RNA, but not both, and they don't have any enzymes needed to complete transcription; they rely on their cellular host to do the dirty work for them.

I hope that helps.  Good luck!