Which of the following groups of components is found in all viruses?
(a) Envelope, nucleic acid, capsid
(b) DNA, RNA and proteins
(c) Proteins and a nucleic acid
(d) Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids

Options

A. Envelope, nucleic acid, capsid
B. DNA, RNA and proteins
C. Proteins and a nucleic acid
D. Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids

Explanation

To determine which group of components is found in all viruses, let's analyze each option provided in the question step by step.

1. **Understanding Virus Structure**: Viruses are unique entities that consist of two primary components: nucleic acid (which can be either DNA or RNA) and proteins (which form the capsid). Some viruses may also have additional structures like an envelope, but these are not universal.

2. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Option (a)**: Envelope, nucleic acid, capsid
- Not all viruses have an envelope; therefore, this option is not correct.

- **Option (b)**: DNA, RNA, and proteins
- While viruses contain either DNA or RNA and proteins, they do not contain both DNA and RNA simultaneously. Thus, this option is also not correct.

- **Option (c)**: Proteins and a nucleic acid
- This option correctly identifies the two essential components found in all viruses: proteins (which form the capsid) and nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA).

- **Option (d)**: Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids
- While some viruses may contain carbohydrates and lipids, these components are not found in all viruses. Therefore, this option is not correct.

3. **Conclusion**: After evaluating all the options, the correct answer is **(c) Proteins and a nucleic acid**. This is because these two components are universally present in all viruses.