Comparing Viruses
By: Madison Hennessy
VIRUS REPRODUCTION
Lytic and lysogenic cycles
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
*living things are based on a universal genetic code
*living things respond to the environment
*living things are made of cells
*living things reproduce
*living things maintain a stable internal environment
*living things obtain and use material and energy
*living things, as a group, evolve
Viruses show that they have genetic code in them to reproduce more DNA or RNA, they evolve to adapt to their host. They do not have any of the other characteristics of life because viruses are not considered living things.
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the typical structure of a virus. What is a virus made of? What biomolecules
would you find in a virus?
The typical structure of a virus is DNA or RNA a protein coat and enzymes. The virus is made up DNA or RNA surrounded by a capsid and a capsid surrounded by an envelope. You would find protein and nucleic acid biomolecules in a virus.
2. Discuss the different ways viruses gain entry into a cell.
By injecting its DNA into the cells and by attaching to the cell and entering it.
3. Explain why the Ebola virus would not infect a tobacco plant.
The Ebola virus would not infect a tobacco plant because viruses are very specific about what cells they infect.
4. Name five viruses and the type of cell that they attack.
Rabies attack cells in the nervous system. West Nile attack the cells in the nerve to the brain. Chickenpox attack cells in the sensory nerve. Warts attack cells in the outer layer of the epidermis. Mononucleosis attack cells in the lymph nodes in the neck and throat.
5. You have been diagnosed with the flu. Explain why a doctor will not provide you
with a prescription for antibiotics in order to cure your infection.
The doctor will not provide you with antibiotics because antibiotics treat bacterial diseases and not viral diseases.
6. How is it that a person can be infected with a virus such as HIV and not exhibit
symptoms?
This is becuase this person could already be immune to the HIV virus to where this virus would not affect them.