Final answer:
False. Not all viruses have a capsid, so not all viruses must separate the nucleic acid from the capsid before replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. While it is true that viruses must separate the nucleic acid from the capsid before replication, not all viruses have a capsid. Capsids are protein coats that surround the genetic material of some viruses. However, not all viruses have a capsid. For example, some viruses, like bacteriophages, inject their nucleic acid into the host cell , leaving the capsid outside.
Additionally, enveloped viruses can enter the host cell when the viral envelope fuses directly with the cell membrane, bypassing the need to separate the nucleic acid from the capsid before replication.