The Theories Of Viruses : Viruses

The biological significance of this article is due in part to the fact that viruses are being considered as partway-living things. Even though they are only halfway living, per se, they are still an important part of the study of living things because of the unique way in which they “live” and continue to reproduce by taking advantage of host cells. The information in this article relates to biologists in that viruses provide an entirely different element of potential life, as they are a cause for reconsideration when it comes to defining and determining life and non-life forms. This

Viruses are microscopic particles that invade and take over both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They consist of two structures, which are the nucleic acid and capsid. The nucleic acid contains all genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, and is enclosed in the capsid, which is the protein coating that helps the virus attach to and penetrate the host cell. In some cases, certain viruses have a membrane surrounding the capsid, called an envelope. This structure allows viruses to become more stealthy and protected. There are two cycles in which a virus can go into: lytic and lysogenic. The lytic cycle consists of the virus attaching to a cell, injecting its DNA, and creating more viruses, which proceed to destroy the host. On the other hand, the lysogenic cycle includes the virus attaching to the cell, injecting its DNA, which combines with the cell’s DNA in order for it to become provirus. Then, the provirus DNA may eventually switch to the lytic cycle and destroy the host.

Viruses, Plagues, and History, written by Michael Oldstone, is an insightful and highly educational book that details the history of, that’s right, viruses and plagues. Through typically dry, yet engaging prose, Oldstone recounts what seems like all of it while simultaneously bringing to light the contributions of those brave scientists who asked themselves, “why.” He focuses his attention on some of the most notable viruses such as smallpox, yellow fever, measles, polio, and later he focuses on more contemporary battles against disease.

A virus is a small capsule that contains DNA or RNA, viruses, unlike bacteria are not self sufficient and need a host in

One of the most complex and unexplored disease causing agents are viruses. They are known to be able to infect a wide array of organisms, from plants and animals, to bacteria and fungi. Essentially, anything that is living is capable of being infected with a virus. Once the host's cell is infected, the viruses' goal is to produce more viruses which will infect neighboring cells to continue the cycle.

After looking at many articles I believe that viruses are not alive. Even though in the beginning I believed they were. For an object to be alive it needs to have certain characteristics such as being able to: grow, develop, have a purpose, reproduce, adapt, and have cells. A living thing could reproduce which means they would make offspring. Viruses don't have the ability to grow and develop on their own. Viruses don’t have the ability to reproduce on their own without the help of a keeper

Scientists are sharpening their swords once again preparing for battle. This vehemence was in sued by new evidence favoring the underdogs of the last campaign, which took place in “1946” (dis. Rice). That hatchet has been buried for 70 years, only to be excavated and used in a global game of hot-potato. The cause of this contention and angst is a microscopic composition of proteins and enzymes. Though it may not seem like a controversial subject, highly intelligent minds are on both sides of the debate. They argue over the question “Is a virus a living or non-living?”

I frantically scanned the pages of the investigation, to find the genetic mutation in the killer virus that was quickly causing the most devastating pandemic in human history. It was imperative to find the genetic mutation, because it was that gene which allowed the virus to impersonate its host’s domestic cells, making any treatment virtually impossible.

There is still a great deal of information to learn from the study of viruses and the continued exploration of the viral genome is crucial in understanding how viruses communicate, transmit from host to host and evade immune responses. The ever-change nature of the viral genome has shown us that the most dangerous viral infections of today may be undermined by newer and more effective viruses, resulting in catastrophic outcomes. Through the study of viruses, it is the hope of the scientific community to be ahead of the viral curve, preventing infections before they even

Since viruses were first discovered in 1892, there has been an ongoing debate of whether or not a virus can be classified as living organisms. A virus is composed of two simple components: a genome and a protein coat to protect this genome, and they are known to infect living host cells to replicate. From this definition, it does not define either the possibility of whether or not that a virus is alive. It gives the structure and function of the virus, but not the general rules that are needed to be met when an organism is considered alive. Some scientists believe that the discovery of the mimivirus prompts that all viruses are alive. Others claim that the mimivirus is an anomaly and does not relate to the general aspects of viruses. Viruses

Viruses are tiny organisms that contain nucleic acid encased by a protein coat. Some are enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules. This organisms cannot grow, reproduce or carry out their functions without a host cell. A virus invades living cells and uses their chemical properties in order to keep itself alive and reproduce. As they don’t have ribosomes they are not able to synthesise proteins and they are also unable to generate or store energy in the form of ATP. Therefore, they use the ribosomes of host cells to translate viral messenger RNA into viral proteins, and drive their energy and all other metabolic functions from the host cell. They also depend on the host cell for basic building materials, such as amino acids, nucleotides,

Viruses are extremely unique to the microbial world they are the smallest and simplest microbe. Virions are only 20-400nm in size, and they do not have any way to replicate outside the host cell. Viruses do not have a cell wall, instead of a cell wall

For centuries new viruses have been discovered each and everyday by thousands of different scientists. These viruses affect the lives of almost a billion people. Even though many of these viruses can be harmful to the human body, they have played a phenomenal role in the biological advances over the past century. They move DNA between species, regulate vast populations of organisms, and provide new genetic material for evolution. Viruses influence every single species on earth.

The number of viruses on earth is astonishing, and there are roughly 1030 viruses on earth (Breibart et al, 2005). Viruses are everywhere around us; they are in the air we breath, in the food we eat, and on surfaces we touch; they reside in our intestinal tracts, lungs, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts, and their viral genomes are part of our genetic material. All viruses can only function inside a living host; they are totally dependent on the host protein synthesis machinery for reproduction. They must make mRNA that can be translated by the host ribosomes to survive. Their genetic material is either RNA or DNA which is packaged inside a particle called virion that can be used to transmit the genome from host to

According to http://www.yourdictionary.com/ a virus is “Any of various submicroscopic agents that infect living organisms, often causing disease, and that consist of a single or double strand of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell”. A few examples of a virus are HIV/AIDS, influenza(flu), chickenpox and mumps. A virus works by finding