MDCAT Biology MCQ #100

A T4 bacteriophage has just completed the injection of its DNA into a host cell. What is the fate of the protein capsid remaining on the cell surface?

MDCAT Biology MCQ #100

  1. Question 1

    Q1. A T4 bacteriophage has just completed the injection of its DNA into a host cell. What is the fate of the protein capsid remaining on the cell surface?

    • A) It remains outside as an empty 'ghost'
    • B) It is engulfed by the bacterium for nutrition
    • C) It is dissolved by bacterial surface enzymes
    • D) It enters the cell and serves as a template

    Answer: It remains outside as an empty 'ghost'

    Explanation: After DNA injection, the empty phage capsid remains outside the bacterium and is called a 'ghost'. It does not enter the cell to be digested.