Bacteriophages are viruses that infect what?

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect what?

• A. They infect bacteria with DNA
• B. They infect human cells
• C. They infect plants
• D. They infect viruses

Answer: (A)

Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They recognize and attach to bacterial surfaces, inject their genetic material, and hijack the bacterial machinery to replicate. Many bacteriophages have DNA as their genome, so describing them as infecting bacteria with DNA reflects their typical nature as DNA viruses that target bacterial hosts. They don’t infect human cells, plant cells, or other viruses, which is why those options aren’t correct.

Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They recognize and attach to bacterial surfaces, inject their genetic material, and hijack the bacterial machinery to replicate. Many bacteriophages have DNA as their genome, so describing them as infecting bacteria with DNA reflects their typical nature as DNA viruses that target bacterial hosts. They don’t infect human cells, plant cells, or other viruses, which is why those options aren’t correct.