D18 viruses Flashcards
What makes a virus different to a cell?
A virus has no cytoplasm, organelles or chromosomes. Viruses are acellular and non living.
What is the structure of a virus?
A virus has a very simple structure
A core of nucleic acid which can be RNA (flu virus/HIV) or DNA (Herpes Simplex)
A protein coat of capsid
How do viruses function
Inert virus particles (Virons) exist outside of cells
When they invade a host cell they take over the cells metabolic machinery and replicate
Reproduction is the only function viruses share with other cells
What is the name given to the process by which a virus invades and takes over a host cell
Lytic cycle
What is the lytic cycle?
Viron attaches to a target host cell
The viral nucleic acid is inserted into the cell
The viral nucleic acid is replicated inside the cell
A viral protein is synthesised
There is an assembly of viral particles
Lysis of host cell (Explodes)
What is the name given to any organism which relies upon another organism or cell to survive
Parasite
