Exam 13: Viruses,viroids,and Prions
Discuss why viruses are considered infectious "particles" on the borderline between living and non-living.
Viruses are considered infectious "particles" on the borderline between living and non-living because they exhibit characteristics of both living and non-living things.
On one hand, viruses are non-living because they cannot carry out their own metabolic processes, such as respiration or reproduction, without a host cell. They do not have the necessary organelles or cellular machinery to carry out these processes on their own. Additionally, they do not grow, develop, or respond to stimuli like living organisms do.
On the other hand, viruses are considered living because they can replicate and evolve, which are two key characteristics of living organisms. When a virus infects a host cell, it hijacks the cell's machinery to create new virus particles. This ability to reproduce and evolve is a hallmark of living organisms. Additionally, viruses can adapt to their environment and evolve over time, similar to living organisms.
Overall, viruses are considered infectious "particles" on the borderline between living and non-living because they exhibit some characteristics of living organisms (such as replication and evolution) but lack others (such as metabolic processes and response to stimuli). This unique combination of traits places them in a category that blurs the line between living and non-living entities.
Bacteriophages are used as vectors in genetic engineering to insert new genes into bacteria.Describe the process that makes this genetic recombination possible.
Bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, are used as vectors in genetic engineering to insert new genes into bacteria through a process called genetic recombination. This process involves the bacteriophage infecting the bacteria and injecting its genetic material, which includes the desired gene, into the bacterial cell. Once inside the bacterial cell, the new gene integrates into the bacterial genome through recombination, where it becomes a part of the bacteria's genetic material. This allows the bacteria to produce the protein encoded by the new gene, which can be used for various purposes such as producing therapeutic proteins or improving the bacteria's ability to break down environmental pollutants. Overall, the use of bacteriophages as vectors in genetic engineering allows for the efficient insertion of new genes into bacteria, making it a valuable tool in biotechnology and genetic research.
Generally,in an infection caused by a DNA-containing virus,the host animal cell supplies all of the following EXCEPT
C
The following steps occur during multiplication of retroviruses.Which is the fourth step?
Viruses are the only known infectious agents that are obligatory intracellular parasites.
The following steps occur during multiplication of herpesviruses.Which is the third step?
How is the replication of the viral genome of retroviruses unique among the viruses?
Which of the following is necessary for replication of a prion?
An envelope is acquired during which of the following steps?
Which of the following statements about viral spikes is FALSE?
A clear area against a confluent "lawn" of bacteria is called a
The most conclusive evidence that viruses cause cancers was provided by
Which one of the following steps does NOT occur during multiplication of a picornavirus?
A virus's ability to infect an animal cell depends primarily upon the
Filters
- Essay(0)
- Multiple Choice(0)
- Short Answer(0)
- True False(0)
- Matching(0)