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The Zombie Apocalypse – ARE YOU PREPARED?. What kingdom of life do viruses belong to?. Archaebacteria Eubacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia. Trick Question ! Viruses do not belong to any of these kingdoms. Why?? Viruses are not considered to be alive!.
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What kingdom of life do viruses belong to? • Archaebacteria • Eubacteria • Protista • Fungi • Plantae • Animalia Trick Question! Viruses do not belong to any of these kingdoms. Why?? Viruses are not considered to be alive!
Remember! Characteristics of Living Things • Made of cells • Can reproduce • Contain a universal genetic code • Grow and develop • Obtain and use materials and energy • Respond to the environment • Maintain homeostasis • Change over time Viruses are not considered living, because they do not have all of these characteristics!
Viruses insert their genetic material into a host cell! • DNA or RNA • HIV video
Viruses are species-specific. • Viruses attach to cells by recognizing certain proteins on cell membranes. • Like a lock & key! • Can only cross-species if it mutates, which is possible • Rabies Virus
Viruses mutate quickly. • Why & how do viruses mutate? • To adapt & evolve • Mutates by changing the genetic code That’s why you have to get a new flu shot every year!
Viruses are SUPER SMALL! Fun Fact! If the average virus were the size of the average human, a bacterial cell would be the size of a dinosaur over ten stories tall! http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/
Tree Man • DedeKoswara was born with an immune defect (his immune system is weak). That’s not what causes the growths!
Tree Man • When he was a child, Dede cut his knee outside & it was infected with the Human Papilloma Virus. • His immune system is so weak, his body can’t fight the virus.
There are about 1031 viruses on Earth.As in, 10000000000000000000000000000000… • There are over 10 million times more viruses on Earth than there are stars in the universe. • If you were to stack 1 virus on top of another, they’d stretch past the moon, past the sun, past the edge of the milky way to reach a height of 200 million light years! • If you get sick with the flu, there could be up to 100 trillion viruses in your body in just a few days. WE CAN’T HIDE.
Prevention • Antibody Immune Response • Vaccinations How do vaccines work?
Vaccines • Contain dead/weakened forms of the virus • When injected, your body begins to create antibodies against the virus.
Vaccines • Antibodies are proteins that recognize invaders in your body. • If an antibody finds a virus, the virus will be destroyed. • Your immune system will remember the virus so that it can’t make you sick in the future! Antibodies binding to a virus invader!
Can viruses be killed? Viruses are not alive, so they can’t be killed! Anti-viral medications work by somehow BLOCKING the virus, not by killing it.
Viruses can be the good guys, too! • Researchers are using viruses to deliver medicine to specific cells. • Viral Therapy Delivers Double Blow to Cancer
Both! Cells use DNA, while viruses can use DNA or RNA! I contain nucleic acid as genetic material. • Cell • Virus • Both
Cell! Above are new viruses bursting from a cell! I can grow and develop. • Cell • Virus • Both
I reproduce on my own. Cell! Viruses CANNOT reproduce on their own. They need a host cell. • Cell • Virus • Both
Cell! I obtain and use materials and energy. • Cell • Virus • Both
Cell! I respond to my environment. • Cell • Virus • Both
Virus! Which is smaller? • Cell • Virus • Depends
Cell! These are red blood cells. This is a picture of me: • Cell • Virus • Both
Virus! This is a virus infecting a bacterial cell. This is a picture of me: • Cell • Virus • Both
Before you leave… • Answer the following question on the back of your handout: After your introduction to viruses, do you still believe that viruses are living? Form your own opinion; there is still much debate about this in the scientific world!