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Questions and Answers
What is one of the best methods for preventing viral diseases?
What is one of the best methods for preventing viral diseases?
- Antiviral drugs
- Vaccines (correct)
- Antibiotics
- Healthy diet
Which statement about viruses is true?
Which statement about viruses is true?
- Viruses are larger than most bacterial cells.
- Viruses contain nucleic acids and need a host to replicate. (correct)
- Viruses are considered prokaryotic cells.
- Viruses can replicate on their own.
What is the size of the largest known virus, mimivirus, in nanometers?
What is the size of the largest known virus, mimivirus, in nanometers?
- 400 nm
- 1000 nm
- 600 nm (correct)
- 100 nm
Where can phages, which are viruses that infect prokaryotes, be found?
Where can phages, which are viruses that infect prokaryotes, be found?
What percentage of the DNA in mimivirus is classified as 'junk' DNA?
What percentage of the DNA in mimivirus is classified as 'junk' DNA?
What type of shape does the mimivirus display when viewed under an electron microscope?
What type of shape does the mimivirus display when viewed under an electron microscope?
What is a characteristic feature of all viruses?
What is a characteristic feature of all viruses?
Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus?
Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus?
What is the primary reason viruses are not classified as living organisms?
What is the primary reason viruses are not classified as living organisms?
How are viral diseases treated due to the limitations of antiviral drugs?
How are viral diseases treated due to the limitations of antiviral drugs?
What size range do most viruses typically fall into?
What size range do most viruses typically fall into?
Which of the following statements about viruses is true?
Which of the following statements about viruses is true?
Why are viruses considered nonliving entities?
Why are viruses considered nonliving entities?
What is the term for an individual virus particle?
What is the term for an individual virus particle?
Which characteristic do viruses share with living organisms?
Which characteristic do viruses share with living organisms?
What is the primary focus of virology?
What is the primary focus of virology?
How do viruses cause disease in living organisms?
How do viruses cause disease in living organisms?
In the context of size, how do prokaryotes compare to viruses?
In the context of size, how do prokaryotes compare to viruses?
Which of the following statements about viral structure is accurate?
Which of the following statements about viral structure is accurate?
What makes the classification of viruses a controversial issue?
What makes the classification of viruses a controversial issue?
The mimivirus is larger than most prokaryotic cells.
The mimivirus is larger than most prokaryotic cells.
Antibiotics are effective in treating viral diseases.
Antibiotics are effective in treating viral diseases.
Phages are the least diverse entities found in the biosphere.
Phages are the least diverse entities found in the biosphere.
Viruses can replicate independently without a host cell.
Viruses can replicate independently without a host cell.
Approximately 90% of the DNA in mimivirus is classified as 'junk' DNA.
Approximately 90% of the DNA in mimivirus is classified as 'junk' DNA.
Viruses are classified as living organisms because they have genetic material.
Viruses are classified as living organisms because they have genetic material.
A virus can reproduce independently without a host cell.
A virus can reproduce independently without a host cell.
Prokaryotes are typically larger than viruses, measuring 0.5–5.0 micrometers in length.
Prokaryotes are typically larger than viruses, measuring 0.5–5.0 micrometers in length.
Viruses can evolve and share some traits with living things, despite being considered nonliving.
Viruses can evolve and share some traits with living things, despite being considered nonliving.
The study of viruses is known as biology, and people who study them are called biologists.
The study of viruses is known as biology, and people who study them are called biologists.
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Viruses
- Viruses are considered nonliving and do not belong to any of the three domains of life.
- They are sub-microscopic particles that infect living cells, lacking the structure of cells such as membranes and organelles.
- Virus sizes range from 20 to 300 nanometers, much smaller than prokaryotes, which measure 0.5 to 5.0 micrometers.
- An individual virus is called a virion and relies on a host cell to replicate and synthesize proteins.
Classification Controversy
- Although viruses are not classified as living organisms, they possess genetic material and can evolve, complicating their classification.
- This ambiguity raises questions about the definition of life itself.
Virology
- The study of viruses is known as virology, and scientists who explore this field are called virologists.
Viral Infections
- Viruses infect the cells of hosts, often leading to diseases such as AIDS, influenza, chicken pox, and the common cold.
- Treatment for viral infections is challenging; antibiotics are ineffective, and only a few antiviral medications exist.
- Vaccines provide a preventative measure against some viral diseases, though they are limited to certain illnesses.
Mimivirus
- The mimivirus is the largest known virus, approximately 400 nm in diameter, but can appear as large as 600 nm due to protein filaments on its surface.
- Initially misidentified as a bacterium, it was first discovered in 1992, with its viral identity confirmed in 2003.
- Mimivirus contains DNA and is speculated to potentially cause pneumonia in humans.
Viral Replication
- Viruses can only replicate by invading host cells, using the cellular machinery and resources for replication.
- They consist of genetic material surrounded by a protective protein coat known as a capsid.
Habitat of Viruses
- Viruses are ubiquitous, found in various environments where life exists, including within prokaryotes.
- Phages, a type of virus that infects prokaryotes, are estimated to be more numerous than prokaryotic organisms.
- Phages are present in soil, animal intestines, and seawater, with high concentrations found in marine environments.
- They can also be located in drinking water and food products, playing a role in bacterial population control.
Summary
- Viruses are tiny particles smaller than prokaryotic cells; they cannot replicate independently but have nucleic acids and the ability to evolve.
Characteristics of Viruses
- Viruses are considered nonliving and do not belong to any of the three domains of life.
- They are sub-microscopic particles that infect living cells, lacking the structure of cells such as membranes and organelles.
- Virus sizes range from 20 to 300 nanometers, much smaller than prokaryotes, which measure 0.5 to 5.0 micrometers.
- An individual virus is called a virion and relies on a host cell to replicate and synthesize proteins.
Classification Controversy
- Although viruses are not classified as living organisms, they possess genetic material and can evolve, complicating their classification.
- This ambiguity raises questions about the definition of life itself.
Virology
- The study of viruses is known as virology, and scientists who explore this field are called virologists.
Viral Infections
- Viruses infect the cells of hosts, often leading to diseases such as AIDS, influenza, chicken pox, and the common cold.
- Treatment for viral infections is challenging; antibiotics are ineffective, and only a few antiviral medications exist.
- Vaccines provide a preventative measure against some viral diseases, though they are limited to certain illnesses.
Mimivirus
- The mimivirus is the largest known virus, approximately 400 nm in diameter, but can appear as large as 600 nm due to protein filaments on its surface.
- Initially misidentified as a bacterium, it was first discovered in 1992, with its viral identity confirmed in 2003.
- Mimivirus contains DNA and is speculated to potentially cause pneumonia in humans.
Viral Replication
- Viruses can only replicate by invading host cells, using the cellular machinery and resources for replication.
- They consist of genetic material surrounded by a protective protein coat known as a capsid.
Habitat of Viruses
- Viruses are ubiquitous, found in various environments where life exists, including within prokaryotes.
- Phages, a type of virus that infects prokaryotes, are estimated to be more numerous than prokaryotic organisms.
- Phages are present in soil, animal intestines, and seawater, with high concentrations found in marine environments.
- They can also be located in drinking water and food products, playing a role in bacterial population control.
Summary
- Viruses are tiny particles smaller than prokaryotic cells; they cannot replicate independently but have nucleic acids and the ability to evolve.
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