Viruses Flashcards
1
Q
Define Virus
A
Non-cellular particle made up of genetic material & protein that can invade living cells
2
Q
The structure of a virus is made up of..
A
A core of NUCLEIC ACID surrounded by a coat pf protein called a CAPSID
3
Q
The nucleic acid core is either..
A
DNA or RNA depending on the virus
4
Q
The nucleic acid core may contain…
A
several hundred genes
5
Q
Define Bacteriophage
A
virus that invades the bacteria (“bacteria eater”)
6
Q
What are 4 different shapes of Bacteriophage?
A
- Polyhedral
- Spherical
- Helical
- Complex
7
Q
How many nanometers do viruses vary in sizes?
A
10 to 400 nanometers (1 nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter)
8
Q
Define Specificity
A
Specific viruses will infect specific organisms
Ex. a plant virus can’t infect an animal
