A virus infects cultured leaf cells. Inhibitor Q is added immediately after viral genetic material has entered each cell. Scientists know that inhibitor Q affects either the host-cell enzymes that copy genetic material or the host-cell ribosomes.
The table shows the mean results after 6 hours.
| Treatment | Copied viral genomes per infected cell | Complete virus particles assembled per infected cell |
|---|---|---|
| no inhibitor Q | 520 | 190 |
| inhibitor Q added | 510 | 0 |
Explain which stage of the lytic pathway is directly prevented by inhibitor Q. Use the data in your answer and predict the effect of inhibitor Q on the number of leaf cells infected during the next cycle.
112 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 5.1 Health and communicable disease, covering 5.1.1 Communicable and non-communicable diseases, 5.1.2 Disease susceptibility interactions, 5.1.3 Pathogens as disease-causing organisms, 5.1.4 Common infections, 5.1.5 Spread and prevention of pathogens, 5.1.6 Lifecycle of a virus, and 5.1.7 Spread and prevention of STIs. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.