ScienceAugust 31, 2026

capsid

KAP-sid

Definition

The protective protein shell that encloses the genetic material of a virus.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'capsa' meaning 'box' or 'case,' combined with the chemical suffix '-id' to denote its biological structure.

In the news

In this article, the term refers to the protein shells that cf-PICIs build, which are essential for protecting their genetic material despite their lack of a delivery mechanism.

Google’s AI co-scientist generates ten years of superbug insights in just 48 hours

Read the full article ↗

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