The Living World
49 important questions on The Living World
What are the parts labeled A, B, and C in the virus diagram, and their functions?
- A: Protein coat — protects the genetic material.
- B: Genetic material (DNA/RNA) — contains instructions for replication.
- C: Surface proteins — help the virus attach to host cells.
Name three different shapes of viruses.
- Helical
- Icosahedral
- Complex
What were the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic?
- Huge global economic consequences
- Job losses affecting people's income
- Healthcare facilities under strain
- Reduced manufacturing productivity
- Disrupted supply chains
- Rising prices
- Higher grades + faster learning
- Never study anything twice
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What are the living and non-living characteristics of viruses?
- Living Characteristics:
- Genetic material (DNA or RNA) is present.
- Organized compared to inorganic substances.
- Can replicate inside a host cell.
- Protein structure.
- Passes genetic information to the next generation.
- Non-living Characteristics:
- Only one type of nucleic acid.
- Lack organelles like mitochondria, nucleus.
- Non-cellular; cannot metabolize independently.
How do animal diseases affect the economy?
- Foot-and-mouth disease impacts animals like cattle, pigs, and sheep
- Causes deaths, milk reduction
- Increases veterinary care costs
State three living and non-living characteristics of viruses.
- Living: Reproduce inside host, mutate, carry genetic material.
- Non-living: Non-cellular, require host for reproduction, no metabolic activity.
How are vaccines created and what is their role in the immune system?
- Viruses or their components are used to create vaccines.
- Vaccines stimulate the immune system to form antibodies.
- They protect against diseases without causing the disease itself.
Why are plant viruses economically important?
- Causes crop diseases
- Reduces yield
- Example: tobacco mosaic virus
What are viral vectors in gene therapy?
- Viruses are used to deliver genes to human cells.
- This process aids in treating diseases like cancer.
- Viruses involved are modified to not cause disease.
What role do vaccines play in medicine?
- Use viruses or genetic material to stimulate immune response
- Help create antibodies against diseases
- Prevent person from getting disease
What is the function of viral components?
- Nucleic Acid: Contains the virus's genetic information.
- Capsid: Protects and delivers genetic material to host.
- Envelope: Helps bind to host cells, enveloped viruses less stable than non-enveloped.
What is the economic impact of plant diseases on farmers?
- Plant diseases, like the tobacco mosaic virus, reduce crop yields.
- They change chloroplast color, hindering photosynthesis.
- Farmers must take measures to prevent the spread.
Why are viruses described as obligate parasites?
- Require a host cell for replication
- Cannot reproduce independently
- Depend on host machinery for survival
What are the characteristics of DNA and RNA viruses?
- DNA Viruses:
- Mainly double-stranded DNA
- Larger genome
- Assemble in host nucleus
- Very stable, low mutation rate
- Easier vaccination
- RNA Viruses:
- Mainly single-stranded RNA
- Smaller genome
- Assemble in host cytoplasm
- Less stable, high mutation rate
- Difficult vaccination
How do human diseases highlight the importance of viruses in medicine?
- Include diseases like chickenpox, measles, mumps, influenza
- Viral infections untreated by antibiotics
- Vaccines prevent viral infections
What are the steps involved in viral replication?
- Attachment: Virus attaches to host cell.
- Penetration: Viral DNA/RNA injected into the host.
- Replication: Viral DNA/RNA copies made.
- Synthesis: Host ribosomes make viral proteins.
- Assembly: New virions assembled.
- Release: Host cell ruptures, releasing virions.
How do animal diseases affect agriculture and trade?
- Foot-and-mouth disease affects cattle, pigs, sheep.
- Causes animal deaths, lowers milk production, increases veterinary care costs.
- Outbreaks affect trade, as animal products may be rejected internationally.
Classify viral traits as living or non-living.
- Living: Replicate inside a host, genetic info passed on.
- Non-living: Protein present, non-cellular, nucleic acid present, only DNA or RNA, no organelles.
What is the role of bacteriophages in treating bacterial infections?
- Bacteriophages target and kill specific bacteria.
- They offer an alternative to antibiotics.
- Considered beneficial as bacterial resistance increases.
How do DNA viruses differ from RNA viruses?
- DNA Viruses:
- Nucleic acid: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
- Large genome.
- Assembly in nucleus.
- Low mutation rate.
- RNA Viruses:
- Nucleic acid: Ribonucleic acid (RNA).
- Small genome.
- Assembly in cytoplasm.
- High mutation rate.
Describe the stages in viral replication using a labeled diagram.
- Attachment: Virus binds to host cell.
- Penetration: Viral genetic material enters.
- Replication: Host cell replicates viral components.
- Assembly: New viruses assemble.
- Release: Viruses exit host cell.
Describe the importance of bacteriophages in sustainability within ocean ecosystems.
- Bacteriophages help manage bacterial populations.
- They support plankton, which produce ~50% of Earth's oxygen.
- Maintain ocean oxygen levels by controlling bacteria.
What are the key steps in viral replication?
- Attachment: Virus attaches to host cell's surface.
- Penetration: Viral material (DNA/RNA) enters host.
- Replication: Viral genetic material is copied.
- Synthesis: Host ribosomes make viral proteins.
- Assembly: New virions form.
- Release: Host cell ruptures, releasing virions.
How do viruses impact living organisms?
- Cancer Causing: Some viruses, like HPV, alter host cell function.
- Infectious Diseases: Cause diseases like influenza and COVID-19.
- Latency: Viruses like herpes can remain dormant, reactivate later.
What is the significance of viral vectors in gene therapy?
- Used to carry necessary genes into human cells
- Modify viruses to prevent diseases
- Ensure viruses don’t cause disease
What are the common human diseases caused by viruses and how are they controlled?
- Diseases: Covid-19, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, AIDS.
- Antibiotics ineffective; vaccines prevent serious infections.
- Over 160 virus strains exist, making some vaccinations impossible.
How are bacteriophages used in medical treatment?
- Treat infections caused by bacteria
What are the functions of different parts of a virus?
- Nucleic acid (DNA/RNA): Contains the virus's genetic information.
- Capsid: Protects genetic material; aids in host cell attachment.
- Envelope: Helps virus bind to host cells; makes viruses less stable.
How do viruses use host cells for reproduction?
- Viruses lack metabolic enzymes and ribosomes.
- They infect specific cell types.
- Viral genes hijack host cell's machinery.
- Host cell's ribosomes and proteins are utilized.
- New virions are produced and released.
What are the economic impacts of viruses, specifically seen during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Shutting workplaces affected income.
- Absences increased in workplaces.
- Healthcare facilities were strained.
- Productivity reduced, disrupted supply chains.
- Governments provided financial assistance.
How are viral infections spread and how long can they survive?
- Spread: air (cough/sneeze), sexual contact, blood.
- Survival: up to 24 hours on surfaces; some last longer.
Explain the term "plankton" and their role in oxygen production.
- Plankton are plants and animals carried by ocean currents.
- Include microscopic algae producing ~50% of global oxygen.
- Vital for sustaining marine and atmospheric ecosystems.
Discuss the economic and medical importance of viruses.
- Cause of global pandemics
- Require medical research for vaccines
- Economic burden on healthcare
- Influence vaccine development and production
What are the learning objectives for understanding virus structure and characteristics?
- Draw a labelled virus diagram (DNA/RNA, protein coat).
- Explain each virus part's function.
- List 'living' and 'non-living' virus traits.
What distinguishes DNA viruses from RNA viruses?
- Genetic Material: DNA or RNA.
- Infection: Both can infect eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
- Replication: Method depends on type.
- Host Cells: Different host cell interactions.
What are the living characteristics of viruses?
- Genetic material (DNA or RNA) is present.
- Complex organization compared to inorganic substances.
- Can replicate inside a living host.
- Possess a protein structure.
- Genetic information is transmitted to next generations.
What are the non-living characteristics of viruses?
- Contain only one type of nucleic acid.
- Lack organelles like mitochondria and nucleus.
- Cannot replicate outside a host cell.
- Non-cellular structure.
- Cannot perform metabolism independently.
What should you be able to do after learning about viral replication?
- Outline virus action modes.
- Diagram viral replication.
- Differentiate DNA and RNA viruses.
- State viral economic and medical importance.
- Understand viruses as obligate parasites.
Could you grow a virus in nutrient agar like bacteria? Explain.
- No, viruses need a host cell for replication
- Nutrient agar lacks living cells
- Viruses cannot replicate independently
What are some learning outcomes regarding viruses?
- Describe the structure of a virus and its functions.
- Explain virus replication within cells.
- Distinguish RNA and DNA viruses.
- Discuss defining viruses, their actions, economic, and medical importance.
What defines a virus as a unique biological entity?
- Microscopic parasitic agents called virions.
- Replicate only in living host cells.
- Not included in the three domains of life.
- No cell organelles like ribosomes.
What should be recommended today to prevent a future pandemic?
- Enhance global surveillance
- Improve public health infrastructure
- Develop rapid response strategies
- Promote vaccination programs
How many lives were saved by vaccines from 1974 to 2024 according to a scientific study?
- Total lives saved: 154 million.
- Measles: 27.98 million.
- Tetanus: 93.7 million.
- Pertussis: 13.17 million.
- Tuberculosis: 10.87 million.
What are some topics linked to the chapter on viruses?
- Chapter 1: What Is Biology?
- Chapter 24: Information Flow in the Cell.
- Chapter 32: Infectious Disease and the Human Immune Response.
Why can antibiotics be used for bacterial infections but not viruses?
- Antibiotics target bacterial cell functions
- Viruses lack cellular structure
- Specific antiviral drugs are needed
Name some terms included in the subject vocabulary related to viruses.
- Virus
- Bacteriophage
- Capsid
Compare and contrast a virus with an animal cell.
- Virus: Non-cellular, requires host, lacks organelles
- Animal cell: Cellular, independent metabolism, contains organelles
What are the pros and cons of using bacteriophages?
- Pros: Target specific bacteria, reduce antibiotic resistance
- Cons: Narrow host range, potential resistance
Why do countries not vaccinate against all viral diseases?
- Cost and availability challenges
- Limited efficacy for some vaccines
- Disease prevalence varies
- Resource allocation
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