Viruses Flashcards
Bacteriophage is:
-a virus that infects bacterial cells
Envelope is:
-outer layer around some viruses, made of fat to help the virus enter a cell
Capsid is:
-the protein shell that surrounds and protects a virus’ genetic material
Lysis is:
-when a cell breaks open (the host cell ruptures)
-often because a virus has infected it
Lysogeny is:
-when a virus’ genes become part of a cell’s DNA
-the viral DNA can stay in a dormant state
Transduction is:
-when a virus accidentally transfers DNA from one bacterium to another
Gene therapy is:
-when doctors fix or replace genes to help treat diseases
Viroid is:
-tiny infectious piece of RNA that can cause disease in plants
Prion is:
-misshapen protein that can cause brain disease
what are viruses?
-small non-living particles
-have no cytoplasm
-can’t grow/reproduce on their own
epidemic:
A breakout of a disease (of any origin) that is kept to a localised area
pandemic:
An epidemic that has spread across multiple geographical areas
are viruses living or non-living, why?
non-living, because they can’t reproduce without a host cell
Vaccines are:
mixtures containing weakened forms or parts of a virus
