(3.2.1.2) viruses

Question 1

what are characteristics about viruses?

Answer 1

• they are acellular and non-living because they have no sub-cellular organelles and no cell-surface membrane, and cannot undergo metabolic reactions
• they cannot live and move independently without a host cell

Question 2

what are some features about viruses?

Answer 2

• contain genetic material (DNA or RNA) to code for viral protein
• contain a capsid to protect genetic material in place of a cell-surface membrane
• contain attachment proteins which are complementary to and bind to receptors on its specific host cell

Question 3

what are additional features a HIV virus might have?

Answer 3

• a viral phospholipid envelope picked up from its host cell
• reverse transcriptase to convert viral RNA to viral DNA to make us ill