Question
Biology Question on Biological Classification
Tobacco mosaic virus is a tubular filament of size:
A
300×10 nm
B
300×5 nm
C
300×20 nm
D
700×30 nm
Answer
300×20 nm
Explanation
Solution
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) exhibits rod-like helical structures measuring 300 nanometers in length and 18 nanometers in diameter. It comprises 2140 protein subunits, each with a molecular mass of 17420 (consisting of 158 residues), arranged in a helical pattern. TMV belongs to the group of single-stranded RNA viruses and is responsible for causing mosaic diseases in tobacco and related plants within the Solanaceae family. TMV takes on a helical or cylindrical form, featuring a protein coat (capsid) that encases its single-stranded RNA, which serves as its genetic material.
So, the correct answer is (C): 700x30 nm