Viruses vs. Cells
By: Carson Yarbrough 11-17-15 P.2
HIV Virus
Influenza Virus
Bacteriophage virus
Plant Cell
Animal Cell
The Lytic Cycle
The Lysogenic Cycle
Characteristics of Life
1. Living things grow and develop
2. All living things reproduce
3. All living things maintain homeostasis
4. Living things respond (adapt) to the environment
5. Living things have cellular organization
6. Living things obtain and use material and energy
7. Living things are based on a universal genetic code
8. Living things as a group evolve
Viruses have a very small amount of the characteristics of life. Viruses do not obtain and use material and energy. They do not maintain homeostasis or matabolize. Viruses cannot reproduce ON THEIR OWN, viruses reproduce by hijacking the reproductive structures of other cells. Viruses do not move and they do not go through respiration processes. Most importantly they have no cellular structure.
Although viruses are non-living they do show some characteristics of living things. They are made of proteins and glycoproteins like cells are. They contain genetic information needed to produce more viruses in the form of DNA and RNA. Lastly, they evolve to adapt to their hosts.
Questions
1. Describe the typical structure of a virus. What is a virus made of? What biomolecules would you find in a virus?
2. Discuss the different ways viruses gain entry into a cell.
One way a virus enters a cell is when the virus attaches to the host cell. The Virus injects it’s DNA or RNA into the host cell. Viruses genetic material takes over the cell.
Enveloped viruses are enclosed in a membrane similar to the one of the host cell. The virus and the envelope fuse and the virus enters the cell through endocytosis.
3.Explain why the Ebola virus would not infect a tobacco plant?
4. Name five viruses and the type of cell that they attack.
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?
6. How is it that a person can be infected with a virus such as HIV and not exhibit symptoms?
It is not the virus or the disease that ultimately kills a person; it is the inability to fight off something like a cold.