BIOL 100- MWilson

Presenting

By: Mackenzie Wilson

Viruses vs. Bacteria

Viruses are unable to reproduce, however they do multiply. The multiplying is done by attaching to a host cell

Viruses can not be catgegorized as living. They are not composed of cells, but are actually made up of several genes, bundled within a protein.

Should Viruses Be Categorized as living?

• order
• sensitivity or response to stimuli
• reproduction
• adaptation
• growth and development
• regulation/ homeostasis
• energy processing

Properties of Life

The distingushing factor between living and non-living organisms, by their ability to have order, respond to stimuli, reproduce, adapt, grow and develop, maintain homeostasis, and produce energy.

"Life"

-Small, noncellular parasites that rely on a host cell to reproduce.

What are Viruses?

An experiment in 1935 by William M. Stanley and his colleagues, confirmed that the crytsallized virus lacked the essential systems needed for metabolic functions. Therefore, the virus is a complex of biochemicals, not a living organism.

Why are Viruses historically supposedly non-living?

How do the structures of viruses differ from the structure of prokaryotes?

A virsus is composed of s DNA or RNA genome inside a capsid. Can also have viral envelopes. Prokaryotes are protected by a cell wall, and consist of a singluar circular chromosome.

How does a cell get energy? Cells often maintain energy from sungliht and organic food sources. Eukaryotic cells produce ATP and NADH, which are energy-rich molecules. How does a virus uitilize and get energy? A virus obtains energy from the host cell that it attaches to. They use the energy that is gained from the host cell to replicate.

Energy

How does a cell reproduce? A cell reproduces by mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is when one cell splits into two identical daughter cells. When sex cells are present, this reproduction is called meiosis. In meiosis, the cells undergo two stages of division, so that they can mate with another cell and have eactly 46 chromosomes. How does a virus reproduce? A virus reproduces by attaching to a host cell, and using the host cell's energy to replicate.

Reproduction

How does a virus mutate? DNA viruses generally do not have mutations, becuase errors in copying the genetic material are generally fixed by the host cell. However, in RNA viruses, mutations occur more frequently when copying the RNA, because the host cell does not correct the mistakes.

Mutation

How does a cell mutate? A cell mutates when there is a change in the DNA sequence of the cell. These mutations most commonly occur during cell division, but can also be caused by DNA damaging agents in the envrioment or viral infections.

How do vaccines provide immunity? Vaccines provide immunity by stimulating a person's immune system to produce antibodies. These antibodies are "memory" antibodies, and will be able to fight the diesase if the vaccinated person would happen to get it.

Immunity

Why are some people naturally immune to diseases and viruses? Some people are naturally immune to virsuses and diseases through the genetic makeup that they are passed down from their parents. As far as viruses, the protein receptors on the outside of the cell work to provide immunity.

Purpose of DNA and RNA

DNA contains the codes for all of the activites that take place in a cell. The RNA takes the DNA codes and turns them into proteins needed to carry out the cell functions.

Virus Evolution

Are viuses subject to evolution, and if so how? Viruse are subject to evolution. When two seperate strands of the same virus infect a cell, a new virus is produced. This is referred to as recombation. Viruses can also evolve due to genetic mutations.

Virus v.s. Bacteria

Bacterial Disease: Illness caused by bacteria either in the body or on the skin. These bacteria can reproduce on their own. Viral Disease: widespread infection caused by small mircoorganisms (viruses), that must have a host cell in order to reproduce.

I have learned that viruses are unable to reproduce on their own. I believe that this is a key factor in them being considereed living, so I would choose to classify them as nonliving organisms.

Solutions

How could the controversy of whether viruses are alive be solved? A group of scientists could collect 100 differnt viruses and test whether they fall into the category of being a living thing, by achieving the 8 characteristcs of life.

+info

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