Would You Expect the Number of Virions to Be the Same

Multiple Choice

Would you expect the number of virions to be the same if you measured them by the plaque assay or by counting using the electron microscope? Why?

A) Yes-both methods measure the total number of virus particles in a solution.
B) No-the plaque assay only measures viable virus particles, while the electron microscope cannot distinguish between defective and viable virus.
C) No-you cannot count virus particles by using a plaque assay. You can only get a relative difference in quantity from one preparation of virus particles to another with this method.
D) Yes-only fully functioning viruses will be released from a host cell, so the quantified number of virus particles in a plaque assay should be identical to the number of free virus particles counted by electron microscopy.