Can someone help me with this genetics question 1. You are working in a virology
ID: 187059 • Letter: C
Question
Can someone help me with this genetics question
1. You are working in a virology lab and help test incoming viral samples to determine the group of viruses to which they belong. Viruses are characterized by their genome ds-DNA, SS-DNA, ds-RNA, SS RNA (where ds stands for double stranded and ss for single stranded). 3 viruses have arrived for your analysis, Eppstein-Barr virus, a Rotavirus, and an unknown virus from birds. You have analyzed the nucleic acid content as seen below. Based on the data, what type of virus is each one (ds-DNA, SS DNA, ds-RNA, SS-RNA; 3pts)? %G 21.9 31 20.2 %U 0 19 0 %T Virus Eppsteia-Barr 27.9 Rotavirus Bird Virus %C 21.8 31.4 30 28.4 18.6 36.3 13.5Explanation / Answer
#1. Eppstein-Barr virus:
Following Chargaff’s rule-
In a dsDNA, number of G = number of C ; or %G = %C
Number of T = number of A ; or %T = %A
The %G = %C and %T = %A due to complementary base pairing.
As shown in table, the virus also has nearly same ratios.
So, it is a dsDNA virus.
#2. Rotavirus:
Uracil is present only in RNA but not is DNA because T in DNA is replaced by U in RNA.
Given: %A = %U, and %G = %C (roughly).
The %A = %U and %G = %C indicates that A pairs with U, and G pairs with C.
Therefore, due to complementary base pairing, the molecule is a double stranded molecule. Due to presence of U, the molecule is an RNA.
Therefore, overall, the virus is a dsRNA virus.
#3. Bird Virus:
Note the following points as tabulated-
I. U is not present in viral genome. So, it is a DNA-virus.
II. %A is not equal to %T. %G is not equal to %C. So, there is no complementary base pairing. Therefore the molecule is a single-strand genome.
Conclusion: The viral genome is ssDNA.
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