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New Unit Microbiology - Viruses. Micro (small) biology (study of living organisms) Viruses = Latin for poison Closely linked with many organisms. Source of disease and death including AIDS, influenza,Ebola,colds. Objectives of today’s lesson.
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New Unit Microbiology - Viruses • Micro (small) biology (study of living organisms) • Viruses = Latin for poison • Closely linked with many organisms. • Source of disease and death including AIDS, influenza,Ebola,colds
Objectives of today’s lesson • To describe the basic structure and function of a virus • To evaluate the evidence used to classify viruses as living or non-living
The Structure of Viruses • Viruses are non-cellular (they are not composed of cells) • Viruses are composed of four major components: Capsid/Protein Coat Nucleic Acids Specific receptors Enzymes
Viral Structure + function • Capsid/Protein Coat - coats or protects genetic material of virus • Nucleic Acids - either DNA or RNA which takes over and instructs a host cell on how to produce more virus. • Specific receptors or a tail - located on surface. Allows virus to attach to a specific host cell • Enzymes - Aid viral entry and/or takeover of host cell
Viruses - Living or Non-living • Since viruses are non-cellular there is considerable debate about whether they are living or non -living
Evidence that viruses are living • Viruses contain genetic material • Viruses consist of other organic materials such as proteins • Viruses often contain enzymes that aid in replication • Viruses replicate using a host cell
Evidence that viruses are non-living • Viruses do not grow • Viruses are non-motile • Viruses do not respond to stimuli • Viruses are able to form crystals and survive outside of the host cell • Viruses are unable to replicate without a host cell • Viruses have no metabolic activity
Review • Viruses are microscopic organisms that impact all other organisms • It can be successfully debated that they are both living and non-living • Viruses have an elegantly simple structure that aids in their survival • The function of viral components relates to their structure
Future explorations • The specificity of virus/host relationships • Viral reproduction - the lytic and lysogenic cycles