Question

Bacteriophage generally have (a) Single stranded RNA (b) Double stranded RNA (c) Double stranded DNA (d) Any of the above

Short answer

The correct answer is (d) Any of the above.

Step-by-step solution

Understand bacteriophages

A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. The term is commonly used in its shortened form, 'phage'.

Identify the types of nucleic acids that viruses can have

Viruses can have different types of nucleic acids. They can be RNA or DNA viruses and can be single-stranded or double-stranded.

Apply the knowledge to bacteriophages

Bacteriophages are known to utilize all types of nucleic acids including single stranded RNA, double stranded RNA, and double stranded DNA.

Key concepts

Virus Replication

Virus replication is a critical aspect of how viruses sustain and spread within their host populations. Unlike living organisms that can reproduce on their own, viruses must invade host cells and hijack their machinery to make copies of themselves.

When a virus like a bacteriophage, which specifically targets bacteria, finds a suitable host, it attaches to the bacterial cell and injects its nucleic acid into it. This nucleic acid contains the genetic blueprints for producing new viruses. Depending on whether it's RNA or DNA, single-stranded or double-stranded, the replication process differs slightly.

For example, if a phage injects double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), the host's cellular mechanisms are tricked into reading the viral DNA and executing its instructions, leading to the synthesis of viral proteins and genome replication. Eventually, the bacterium is overwhelmed with new phages and lyses (breaks open), allowing them to find new hosts.

Nucleic Acids in Viruses

The genetic material of viruses, known as nucleic acids, can be either DNA or RNA, and these molecules can be either single-stranded (ss) or double-stranded (ds). The type of nucleic acid a virus contains is pivotal, as it determines the virus's replication mechanism and how it interacts with its host.

Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses, for example, must first convert their RNA into a complementary strand before it can be used as a template for protein synthesis. In contrast, viruses with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), such as many bacteriophages, can directly utilize the host's DNA-replicating enzymes.

Moreover, the structure of the nucleic acid has implications for a virus’s stability and how it evolves over time. RNA viruses tend to have a higher mutation rate than DNA viruses, as the enzymes that replicate RNA are more prone to errors than those that copy DNA.

Types of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, as their name suggests, 'eat bacteria' metaphorically by infecting and utilizing them to reproduce. There are numerous types of bacteriophages, categorized based on their nucleic acid content.

They can contain:

• Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA)
• Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)
• Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)
• Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)

These types fall into different families and can be further differentiated by their shape and life cycle. For instance, some phages 'lyse' their host bacteria as a part of their reproduction cycle — these are called lytic phages. Others integrate their genetic material into the host's genome and exist as a prophage — in a lysogenic cycle.

The diversity in nucleic acid types and life cycles allows bacteriophages to adapt to various environments, making them incredibly diverse and widespread biological entities.