A novel virus is discovered in which each virus particle includes both double-stranded DNA and single-stranded RNA. The sequence of the RNA is not complementary to either of the strands of DNA. To determine whether the genetic material of the virus consists of the DNA or the RNA, or both, you conduct three different experiments. In the first, you try infecting cells with the virus’s DNA alone; in the second, you try infecting the cells with the virus’s RNA alone; and in the third, you try infecting the cells with both the virus’s DNA and RNA together. What result would tell you that the RNA alone is the genetic material?

Select one:

a. The first and second experiments result in infections but the third does not.

b. The first and third experiments result in infections but the second does not.

c. The second and third experiments result in infections but the first does not.

d. The first experiment results in an infection but the second and third do not.