Biology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

The genetic material of a virus is:

1. DNA

2. Bacteria

3. RNA

4. Nucleic acid

The correct answer is: RNA

Viruses are small infectious agents that require a host to survive and reproduce. They are composed of genetic material inside of a protein coat. While some viruses do contain DNA as their genetic material, the majority of viruses have RNA as their genetic material. Option A, DNA, is a common genetic material found in living organisms such as bacteria, plants, and animals, but not all viruses. Option B, bacteria, is an incorrect choice because bacteria are different from viruses. Bacteria are unicellular organisms that can survive and reproduce on their own, while viruses require a host cell. Option D, nucleic acid, is incorrect because both DNA and RNA are forms of nucleic acid, but not all nucleic acids are the genetic material of a virus. Therefore, the correct answer is C, RNA, for the majority of viruses.