Discovery and Origin of Viruses

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Questions and Answers

What is the meaning of the Latin word from which 'virus' is derived?

  • Disease
  • Infection
  • Poison (correct)
  • Cell

Which hypothesis suggests that viruses may have evolved from free-living cells?

  • Cellular Origin Hypothesis
  • Regressive Hypothesis (correct)
  • Progressive Hypothesis
  • Virus First Hypothesis

Who discovered the filterable nature of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)?

  • D. Ivanowski (correct)
  • W. M. Stanley
  • C. Chamberland
  • E. Jenner

What is a defining characteristic of viruses in relation to living cells?

<p>They can only reproduce inside living cells. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant contribution did E. Jenner make in 1796?

<p>Development of the first vaccine against smallpox (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Discovery of Viruses

  • The term "virus" originates from the Latin word "venom", meaning "poison".
  • Early understanding of viruses involved infectious diseases with unknown causes.
  • C. Chamberland and L. Pasteur discovered that rabies agents could pass through porcelain filters with a pore size of 100-1000 nm.
  • Current definition of viruses: Non-cellular infectious entities containing RNA or DNA, typically encased in a protein coat, requiring living cells for reproduction.

Origin of Viruses

  • Regressive Hypothesis: Viruses evolved from free-living cells or intracellular prokaryotic parasites.
  • Progressive Hypothesis: Viruses originated from RNA and DNA molecules or self-replicating entities similar to transposons or other mobile genetic elements that escaped from a host cell.
  • Virus First Hypothesis: Viruses may have been the first self-replicating entities evolving before the first cells.

Contributions of Virologists

  • E. Jenner (1796): Developed the first vaccine against smallpox.
  • C. Chamberland (1884): Discovered the filterable nature of rabies viruses.
  • D. Ivanowski (1892): Discovered the filterable nature of Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV).
  • Twort and D'Herelle (1915, 1917): Discovered bacteriophages.
  • W. M. Stanley (1935): Isolated, purified, and crystallized TMV.

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