rickvanmeel

Tobacco Mosaic Capsomere | 2023 | brass, acrylic | 13 x 13 x 27 cm

Tobacco Mosaic is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that infects a wide range of plants, especially Tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae. The infection causes characteristic mosaic-like mottling and discoloration on leaves. Tobacco Mosaic is a simple rod-shaped helical virus consisting of single-stranded RNA enveloped by a protein coat called capsid. This capsid is made of 2130 sub units called capsomeres. Tabacco Mosaic was the first infectious agent to be termed a 'virus' by Martinus Beijerinck.