Capsid Memes

This is cellular drama at its finest! The top panel shows a ribosome (the protein factory of the cell) freaking out because it spotted what looks like viral RNA. "How queer, it looks like viral RNA. I shall notify head quarters immediately!" - such a formal little protein complex! But in the bottom panel, plot twist! The ribosome realizes it's just making capsid proteins (the outer shell that protects viral genetic material). "I guess we doing Capsid proteins now" - like when your body has already been hijacked by a virus and your own cellular machinery is now making viral parts without even realizing it. It's basically the cellular version of "Wait, am I the baddie?" Your own ribosomes betraying you to make more virus babies. The ultimate cellular bamboozle!