A Researcher Lyses a Cell That Contains Nucleic Acid Molecules

Multiple Choice

A researcher lyses a cell that contains nucleic acid molecules and capsomeres of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) . The cell contents are left in a covered test tube overnight. The next day this mixture is sprayed on tobacco plants. Which of the following would be expected to occur?

A) The plants would develop some but not all of the symptoms of the TMV infection.
B) The plants would develop symptoms typically produced by viroids.
C) The plants would develop the typical symptoms of TMV infection.
D) The plants would not show any disease symptoms.
E) The plants would become infected, but the sap from these plants would be unable to infect other plants.