Classification And Viruses Flashcards
Whats a species
Group of similar organisms that are capable of breeding and producing fertile offspring
The five kingdoms
- Monera (prokaryote)
- Protista
- Fungus
- Plants
- Animals
Basics of monera
Bacteria
Single felled
Prokaryotic
Heterotroph/ autotroph
Found everywhere
Basics of Protista
Mainly algae
Amoeba
Basics of fungus
Multicellular
Walls of chitin
Produce sexually/ asexually
Produce antibiotics/ alcohol/ bread
Heterotrophic
Basics of plant kingdom
Autotrophic
Multicellular
Eukaryotic
Photosynthesis
Cellulose in walls
Produce sexually/ asexually
Basics of animal kingdom
Heterotrophic
Multicellular - complex
Reproduce sexually
Viruses
Capsid (protein coat): protect the virus
Nucleic acid: either DNA or RNA
Why might viruses be considered living
Living
Have nucleic acid
Have a protein coat
Can replicate and pass on genetic info
Why viruses are not living organisms
Non-cellular
Can’t reproduce themselves
Don’t have cell organelles
1 type of genetic material
Obligate parasites
A parasitic organism that cannot complete its life- cycle without exploiting a suitable host eg viruses
Economic importance of viruses
- Crop damage: mosaic diseases of potato, tomato, tobacco
- Livestock diseases: foot and mouth, rabies
- Work days lost to sickness
Medical importance of viruses
- Cause disease: common cold, influenza, mumps
- Vaccines: immunisation against viral disease
- Some cancers are caused by disease
Shapes of viruses
Complex ( the T phage)
Round ( influenza or mumps)
Rod-shaped (tobacco mosaic viruses)
Control of virus infections
Viruses are controlled by the bodies general defence system and by the specific defence system
