A common polyhedral capsid shape of viruses is a _.
Correct answer: C. Icosahedral
- A. Complex
- B. Spherical
- C. Icosahedral
- D. Helical
Explanation
Among viruses, the most common polyhedral capsid shape is icosahedral, which consists of 20 triangular faces forming a highly stable and efficient structure. Helical viruses, although common, have a spiral structure rather than flat faces. Spherical viruses appear round due to their envelope, not because of a true polyhedral capsid. Complex viruses, such as bacteriophages, have mixed structural features that do not fit simple polyhedral forms. Therefore, when considering a classic polyhedral capsid, the correct answer is icosahedral.
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About Biodiversity and Variety of Life
Biological classification uses taxonomic ranks, binomial nomenclature and shared characteristics to organize life into kingdoms. The major groups include prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants and animals, with comparisons based on cell type, cell wall, nutrition, body organization, reproduction and evolutionary relationships; prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus.
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