Question

The Baltimore Classification system categorizes viruses based on which characteristic?

• A. Shape of the virus
• B. Type of host infected
• C. Nature of genetic material and replication strategy
• D. Size of the virus

Hint:

Baltimore system → Classifies viruses by genome type + replication method.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Viruses have diverse genomes (DNA or RNA, single or double-stranded). The Baltimore system organizes this diversity into logical groups.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Baltimore Classification, proposed by David Baltimore, divides viruses into seven groups based on:
1. The type of nucleic acid in their genome (DNA vs RNA).
2. The strandedness of the genome (single-stranded vs double-stranded).
3. The method they use to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) to synthesize viral proteins.
This system is fundamental because all viruses must produce mRNA that can be read by the host cell's ribosomes.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Baltimore system categorizes viruses based on the nature of their genetic material and their replication strategy.