Compare/Contrast: Viruses to Cells
Harrison Brode
HIV
Influenza
Bacteriophage
Plant and Animal Cell
Lytic Cycle
Lysogenic Cycle
Characteristics of Life
Questions
1. Describe the typical structure of a virus. What is a virus made of? What biomolecules would you find in a virus?
A virus has DNA or RNA an enzyme and a capsid, some have an envelope. You would find nucleic acid, protein, and lipids.
2. Discuss the different ways viruses gain entry into a cell.
A virus can get into a cell by injecting its DNA into the cytoplasm. A virus can also trick a cell into thinking it's harmless materials, so the cell eats it and the virus gets into the cell.
3. Explain why the Ebola virus would not infect a tobacco plant.
It wouldn't affect tobacco because the Ebola virus is specifically made to attack specific cells in the human body that don't have a cell wall.
4. Name 5 viruses and th type of cell they attack.
Smallpox - Lung Cells
Influenza - Epithelial Cells
Rabies - Brain and Nerve Cells
HIV - Helper T Cells
Ebola - Liver Cells
5. You have been diagnosed with the flu. Explain why a doctor will not provide you with a prescription for antibiotics to cure your infection.
Because the flu is a virus not a bacterial disease.
6. How is it that a person can be infected with a virus such as HIV and not exhibit any symptoms?
It can take a while for the HIV virus to kill all of your helper T cells because the helper T cells try to reproduce, but HIV reproduces faster.