Virus morphology

Virus morphology refers to the structure and shape of a virus. Viruses are made up of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses have additional outer layers called envelopes. The shapes of viruses vary: they can be spherical (like the flu virus), helical (rod-shaped), or complex with head and tail structures (like bacteriophages). Understanding virus morphology helps scientists identify, classify, and develop treatments or vaccines, as structure influences how viruses infect cells and how they can be targeted by medical interventions.