The protein shell that encloses the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of a virus.
From Latin 'capsa' (box) + '-id' suffix (indicating a particle or structure); the term was coined in the 1950s as virology advanced.
The capsid is like a tiny molecular shipping container—viruses use these protein shells to deliver their genetic instructions into your cells, which is why understanding capsids is key to fighting viral infections!
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