A bacteriophage recognises and attaches to a specific bacterial cell by means of its
Correct answer: B. tail fibres
- A. head
- B. tail fibres
- C. collar
- D. sheath
Explanation
The tail fibres carry the binding proteins that fit specific receptor molecules on the bacterial cell wall, which is why a phage infects only one species or strain. The head is simply the polyhedral capsid holding the DNA, and the sheath contracts after attachment to drive the core through the wall. Attachment must come first, so a structure involved in penetration cannot be the one that provides recognition.
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About Viruses
Viruses are acellular infectious particles made of genetic material enclosed by a protein capsid, sometimes with a lipid envelope. Their replication depends on a host cell and may follow lytic or lysogenic cycles, so viral structure and reproduction differ fundamentally from those of cellular organisms such as bacteria.
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