exam 1 Flashcards
What is tobacco mosaic disease?
A plant disease caused by the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), leading to mottling and discoloration of leaves, reducing photosynthesis and crop yield.
Define contagious in the context of viruses.
The ability of a virus to spread between hosts, either through direct contact, vectors, or environmental exposure.
What is a virus?
A microscopic infectious agent that requires a living host cell to replicate, often causing diseases in plants, animals, and humans.
What does a virus genome consist of?
The complete set of genetic instructions within a virus, composed of either DNA or RNA.
What is a capsid?
A protein shell that encases and protects the viral genome from environmental damage and host immune responses.
What is a membrane envelope?
A lipid bilayer derived from the host cell that surrounds some viruses, aiding in immune evasion and host cell entry.
What is meant by obligate intracellular parasite?
Describes viruses as they cannot reproduce outside of a host cell and must hijack cellular machinery to replicate.
What is an RNA virus?
A virus that uses RNA as its genetic material, often mutating rapidly; examples include Influenza and COVID-19.
What is a DNA virus?
A virus that uses DNA as its genetic material, typically more stable than RNA viruses; examples include Smallpox and Herpes.
What is a bacterial virus also known as?
A bacteriophage, which is a virus that infects bacteria.
What are surface proteins in viruses?
Proteins found on the viral envelope or capsid that bind to specific receptors on host cells to facilitate viral entry.
What are restriction enzymes?
Enzymes in bacteria that cut foreign viral DNA as a defense mechanism, often used in genetic engineering.
What is CRISPR-CAS?
A bacterial immune system that recognizes and targets foreign viral DNA for degradation, widely used in gene-editing technologies.
Define viral evolution.
The process by which viruses change over time due to mutations and genetic recombination, sometimes leading to new strains and pandemics.
What defines the characteristics of life?
The ability to grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, adapt, and metabolize energy.
What is cellular structure?
All living organisms are composed of one or more cells, which are the fundamental units of life.
What is the genetic code?
The universal DNA sequence used by all known life forms to store and transmit genetic information across generations.
Define biology.
The scientific study of life, including its structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and interactions.
What are adaptations?
Inherited traits that improve an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
What is the theory of evolution?
The well-supported scientific explanation that all living organisms share common ancestors and have diversified through natural selection and other evolutionary processes.
What is science?
A systematic approach to understanding the natural world through observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing.
What is knowledge in a scientific context?
The cumulative understanding gained through scientific investigation, peer review, and experimentation.
What is data?
Factual information collected through observations and experiments, used to support or refute scientific theories.
What is quantitative data?
Numerical data used for statistical analysis, such as measurements and counts.
