Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria

Question 1

List 3 examples of emerging viruses.

Answer 1

New strains of influenza, like H1N1, Zika virus, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, and HIV/AIDS.

Question 2

Describe the differences between a virus, viroid and a prion.

Answer 2

Viruses are not alive and not composed of cells, and cannot carry out metabolism of their own. A viroid is composed of a single-stranded circular RNA molecule, and the RNA genome does not code for proteins. A prion is composed entirely of protein, it converts normal protein to abnormal form.

Question 3

Outline the structure and function of plasmids.

Answer 3

They are small circular pieces of DNA that exist independently on the bacterial chromosome. They own a region of replication that allows it to be replicated independently of the bacterial chromosome.

Question 4

Describe binary fission and F factors.

Answer 4

Binary fission is a type of process of how bacteria cells divide, and F factors carry several genes that are required for conjunction and also may carry genes that confer growth advantage.