Question

Rahul has keen interest in the study of the virus and its handling. Which of the following branches of science can be related to his interest?
A) Bacteriology
B) Virology
C) Cytology
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:A Virus is a sub-microscopic and an infectious agent which can only replicate inside a living host organism. A virologist is a person who studies and handles viruses. Proper precautions are required in their handling.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse the options to find the correct answer.
>Option A: Bacteriology is a branch of microbiology which deals with the study of Bacteria and its related characteristics like morphology, biochemistry, etc. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
>Option B: Virology is the study of viruses, their handling , their biology and diseases caused by them. Hence, this is the correct option.
Martinus Beijerinck is the father of virology. Virology comes under the field of microbiology. Classification is the most important branch in virology which classifies viruses according to the host they infect. For example viruses which infect bacteria come under the category of bacteriophages.
>Option C: Cytology is a branch of biology dealing with the study of a single cell or a cluster of cells. It provides information on the structure, function, pathology, multiplication and a history of a cell. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
>Option D: It is an irrelevant and an incorrect option.

Additional Information:
>Another method of classification is based on the genetic material of the virus and the replication mechanism used by the virus in host cells.
>Sub viral particles like prions and viroids are also studied by Virologists.
>Virology has helped researchers all over the world to identify the diseases caused by viruses and their treatment methods. Vaccine development for a virus like COVID-19 has been possible due to the elucidation of the viral structure done by virologists.
>Virology also helps to study about the interactions between a virus and its host cell.

Thus, the correct answer is option (B) Virology.

Note:The discipline of virology has helped the world to know more about the viruses, what diseases they are linked to and how they multiply within a host system. Different studies have also helped in setting a general protocol for handling viruses and safety measures to be followed while working with them.