Consider the following 1. Nucleic acids 2. Carbohydrates 3. Proteins A virus is made up of which of the above ?

The correct answer is Option 3 (1 and 3 only) because of the fundamental structural composition of a virus.

A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent consisting primarily of two components:

• Nucleic Acids: Every virus contains a genetic blueprint, which can be either DNA or RNA (but never both). This forms the core of the viral particle.
• Proteins: The genetic material is encased in a protective protein shell called a capsid. Some viruses also possess protein spikes for host cell attachment.

While some complex viruses have a lipid envelope derived from the host cell membrane, carbohydrates are not a primary structural building block of a virus. Unlike cellular organisms, viruses lack a metabolism and do not utilize carbohydrates for energy or structural integrity. Therefore, while nucleic acids and proteins are essential to all viruses, carbohydrates are not, making 1 and 3 the only correct constituents among the choices provided.