What is the main structural difference between enveloped and nonenveloped viruses?
A) Enveloped viruses have their genetic material enclosed by a layer made only of protein.
B) Nonenveloped viruses have only a phospholipid membrane, whereas enveloped viruses have two membranes, the other one being a protein capsid.
C) Enveloped viruses have a phospholipid membrane outside their capsid, whereas nonenveloped viruses do not have a phospholipid membrane.
D) Both types of viruses have a capsid and phospholipid membrane; but in the nonenveloped virus the genetic material is between these two membranes, and in the enveloped virus the genetic material is inside both membranes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main structural difference between enveloped and nonenveloped viruses is that enveloped viruses have a phospholipid membrane outside their capsid, whereas nonenveloped viruses do not have a phospholipid membrane. Nonenveloped viruses have their genetic material enclosed only by a protein capsid. Option A is incorrect because nonenveloped viruses also have a protein capsid, and enveloped viruses have both phospholipid membrane and protein capsid. Option B is incorrect because nonenveloped viruses do not have a phospholipid membrane at all, and enveloped viruses have only one phospholipid membrane outside the protein capsid. Option D is incorrect because in both types of viruses, the genetic material is located within the protein capsid.

What Is the Main Structural Difference Between Enveloped and Nonenveloped