Question

Single stranded nucleic acid is found in :

• A. E.coli
• B. $ \phi \times 174$
• C. $ \lambda $
• D. $ T_{4} $

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The nucleic acid found in a virus can be UNA or RNA.
On the basis of number of strands present the viruses are categorised as-
(i) Single stranded DNA Bacteriophage $\phi \times 174$, coliphage $S_{13},$
(ii) Double stranded DNA-Adenovirus, coliphage $T_{2}, T_{4}, T_{6}, T_{7}$, lambda coliphage
(iii) Single stranded RNA-TMV, influenza,
(iv) Double stranded RNA-Wound tumour virus, Reovirus etc.
The genetic material in E. coli is double stranded circular DNA.