Virus+Questions+SLS

November 25, 2008 Science-Human Bio**
 * Shelby Smith

Outside a host, viruses are chemicals that can be stored on a shelf. Viruses replicate inside cells and appear to be alive at this time.
 * Why are viruses not exactly living or nonliving?**

Avian Flu, mad cow disease, JCD and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
 * Give some examples of diseases caused by viruses.**

An outer capsid which is composed of protein units and an inner core unit which is composed of nucleic acid; both are either composed with either DNA or RNA.
 * What is the basic structure of a virus? (The two parts and their function)**

They command the metabolic machinery of a host cell.
 * Why are viruses like microscopic pirates?**

Viruses live inside other living things and feed off of them, similar to parasites.
 * Why are viruses considered parasites?**

Viruses must replicate inside a living cell.
 * Why are viruses considered OBLIGATE parasites?**

A virus relies on the host’s enzymes and ribosome for its own reproduction, the reproduction causes the host to become susceptible to disease.
 * Why do viruses ALWAYS cause disease?**

Viruses emerge by being transported from one location to another. They then spread through the body’s germs to other patrons eventually causing the virus growth to increase, and viruses can also be spread by insects that require massive efforts to control the vector population such as the West Nile virus.
 * How do viruses "emerge" and "spread" each year? Give examples**.

Many viral diseases are transmitted by vectors, usually insects, that carry diseases from an infected individual to a healthy individual. West Nile Virus: Birds and mosquitos.
 * What is a virus vector? Give examples,**

Birds get infected by feces, saliva or other infected birds themselves.
 * What is the relationship of bird flu to birds?**

A human becomes infected by the bird flu when they already have the flu and come into contact with the avian flu. The two genes then switch and the human is then infected with the bird flu.
 * How does bird flu infect humans?**

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease or a virus.
 * What is a pandemic?**

People fear that the virus could eventually evolve into a hybrid virus and spread. This could eventually become fatal and be easily transmitted from person to person.
 * Why is there fear that bird flu could cause a pandemic?**

Scientists are doing test trials on several types of medicine which have each yielded different results. No vaccination has been issued to prevent the bird flu.
 * What action can we take to prevent bird flu pandemic?**


 * 7.1 (p.122-124) and Avian Flu p. 125**