Types of Viruses and Structure
This protein coat protects viral genetic material.
What is a capsid?
In this cycle, the host cell bursts after new viruses are assembled.
What is the lytic cycle?
This type of cell lacks a nucleus.
What is a prokaryotic cell?
Both viruses and cells contain this biological material.
What is genetic material?
A virus must infect this type of cell to reproduce.
What is a host cell?
Viruses contain one of these two nucleic acids, but never both at once.
What are DNA or RNA?
The first step of viral infection is this process.
What is attachment to a host cell?
This type of DNA is found in prokaryotes.
What is circular DNA?
Cells contain both of these nucleic acids, while viruses contain only one.
What are DNA and RNA?
Viral specificity depends on matching these structures on host cells.
What are receptors?
Surface markers on viruses used for attachment to host cells are called this.
What are glycoproteins?
Viruses release genetic material into host cells mainly for this reason.
What is taking over host machinery for replication?
Eukaryotic cells contain these structures that prokaryotes lack.
What are membrane-bound organelles?
This structure is found in cells but absent in viruses.
What are ribosomes?
The host cell machinery produces these after infection.
What are viral proteins and nucleic acids?
Some viruses possess this outer membrane derived from host material.
What is a lipid envelope?
During this stage, viral DNA may remain inactive for long periods.
What is dormancy / lysogenic stage?
Compare DNA organization in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Eukaryotes have linear DNA in nucleus; prokaryotes have circular DNA without nucleus.
Explain why viruses are considered nonliving.
They cannot reproduce independently and lack metabolism.
Why do some viruses infect only certain species?
Host receptor compatibility.
Explain why viral structure makes viruses dependent on host cells.
Because viruses lack organelles and metabolic machinery needed for replication.
Predict what happens if a virus cannot recognize host glycoprotein receptors.
It cannot infect the host cell.
Explain why eukaryotic cells are generally larger than prokaryotic cells.
Because compartmentalized organelles increase complexity and function.
Justify whether a virus should be classified as living using biological criteria.
Viruses fail several life criteria including independent reproduction and metabolism.
Predict how mutation in host receptors affects viral spread.
Infection may decrease or stop.