Can viral nucleic acids be both DNA and RNA?

Viral nucleic acids can indeed be either DNA or RNA, and some viruses can even have nucleic acids that are a combination of both types. Therefore, stating that viral nucleic acids cannot be both DNA and RNA is misleading. In reality, viruses are categorized based on the type of nucleic acid they contain: DNA viruses have DNA as their genetic material, while RNA viruses have RNA.

The correct answer is that viral nucleic acids can be either DNA or RNA, illustrating the diversity of viruses and their genetic information. Certain viruses, known as ambisense viruses, can even have segments of both RNA types, but they do not possess both DNA and RNA simultaneously. This variation in viral structure is significant in understanding viral replication, pathology, and the design of antiviral therapies.