Viruses Flashcards
1
Q
What are viruses
A
Lack most the characteristics of living organism
Neither prokaryotes or eukaryotes
Dependent on the cells of living organisms
Usually much smaller than cells
2
Q
Discovery of viruses
A
Tobacco Mosaic Disease in plants causes Mottling of leaves and Stunted plant growth and was demonstrated to be contagious
3
Q
Composes of a virus
A
DNA or RNA
Capsid/protein coat
Envelope
4
Q
Viruses outside of a host
A
Viruses outside of eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells are NOT alive because they cannot metabolise or reproduce independently of cells
5
Q
How to viruses work
A
virus uses the capsid proteins to bind to protein
receptors in the host plasma membrane to gain entry
into the host cell
When virions leave cell, they often destroy the host
cell
