Is the statement "A virus must consist of at least a nucleocapsid and a lipid envelope" true?

The statement "A virus must consist of at least a nucleocapsid and a lipid envelope" is false because not all viruses have a lipid envelope. Viruses can be classified broadly into two categories: enveloped viruses and non-enveloped viruses.

Enveloped viruses, such as HIV and influenza, possess a lipid envelope that surrounds their nucleocapsid, which is composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat. However, non-enveloped viruses, such as adenovirus and poliovirus, have a nucleocapsid made up of protein coats but lack the lipid envelope. Therefore, it is not accurate to state that every virus requires both components; some may consist solely of a nucleocapsid without any envelope at all.

This understanding highlights the diversity among viral structures, indicating that the presence of a lipid envelope is not a universal characteristic necessary for all viruses. Thus, the assertion in the original statement is indeed incorrect, making the answer false.