Question

Common genetic material of bacteriophage is
A. RNA
B. DNA
C. RNA or DNA
D. DNA and mRNA

Answer 1

Bacteriophage is a form of virus which infects bacteria. It replicates in the body of the host cell, thus destroying the host cell. Bacteriophage too has different types of genetic material, i,e, it has both single and double-stranded molecules.

Complete answer: Bacteriophage are viruses composed of proteins and have DNA or RNA as their genetic material. The bacteriophage replicates in the bacterium cell and injects its genome into the cytoplasm of the bacterium cell. Bacteriophage has a lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, the virus breaks into the bacterial cell and destroys the bacterial after replicating inside. The lytic cycle also undergoes lysis inhibition. The lysogenic cycle does not lyse the bacterial cell immediately but it remains inside the host cell until the condition of the host cell falls and when there is a deficiency of nutrients in the host body, the prophages get activated. These virions then replicate in the host cell, thus destroying the host cell body. Bacteriophage has either DNA or RNA in the form of linear or circular configuration. The bacteriophage inserts its genetic material inside the bacterial or host cell, thus starting its replication process. RNA is the genetic material of the bacteriophage but RNA is not the sole genetic material of the bacteriophage while DNA is also a genetic material of the bacteriophage. mRNA is also known as messenger RNA which is responsible for the translation of proteins.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Note: RNA is the genetic material mostly found in viruses and is unstable, while DNA is mostly found in plants and animal cells and are a stable form of the genetic material. Bacteriophage has the capability to replicate inside the host cell and destroy its nutrient wall, thus establishing its own genetic material.