Medical and economic importance of viruses

Question 1

What are the 3 main disadvantages of viruses?

Answer 1

1. human diseases
2. plant diseases
3. animal diseases

Question 2

Why are viruses counted as a disadvantage to humans?

Answer 2

Viruses are responsible for causing a wide range of human diseases.
These include common colds, influenza (flu), polio, rabies, mumps, measles, German measles (rubella), chickenpox, one form of meningitis, warts, cold sores, hepatitis, AIDS and some cancers. Coronavirus

Question 3

What diseases do viruses cause in humans?

Answer 3

These include common colds, influenza (flu), polio, rabies, mumps, measles, German measles (rubella), chickenpox, one form of meningitis, warts, cold sores, hepatitis, AIDS and some cancers. Coronavirus

Question 4

What diseases do viruses cause in plants?

Answer 4

Plant diseases caused by viruses include tobacco mosaic disease (in which the leaves of the plant develop a spotted, mosaic appearance), potato mosaic disease and tomato mosaic disease

Question 5

What diseases do viruses cause in animals?

Answer 5

Common animal diseases caused by viruses are foot and mouth, rabies, distemper, cowpox and myxomatosis.

Question 6

What are the 2 main benefits of viruses?

Answer 6

1. genetic engineering
2. control of infections

Question 7

explain genetic engineering

Answer 7

Viruses are sometimes used to transfer genes from one organism to another in genetic engineering. Such viruses are called vectors.

Question 8

What are vectors?

Answer 8

Viruses are sometimes used to transfer genes from one organism to another in genetic engineering. Such viruses are called vectors.

Question 9

What are viruses that transfer genes from one organism to another in genetic engineering, called?

Answer 9

vectors

Question 10

Explain why control of infections are a benefit?

Answer 10

Bacteriophages may be used to control bacterial infections. In this way, they may help to reduce infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.