NH+71.+Questions


 * Why are viruses not exactly living or nonliving?
 * they are basically just proteins and DNA but they can replicate themselves with help when needed.
 * Give some examples of diseases caused by viruses.
 * SARS, Ebola, West Nile, Flu, measles, chicken pox, polio, rabies, AIDS, genital warts, and herpes
 * What is the basic structure of a virus? (The two parts and their function)
 * DNA or RNA- the genetic material- needed for replication
 * Outer capsid- made of protein units- help the virus to get into the cell
 * Why are viruses like microscopic pirates?
 * they take over a host cell and use its replication machinery to replicate itself, and sometimes in turn killing the host cell
 * Why are viruses considered parasites?
 * they are acellular. they can't survive on their own. they need a host cell for replication.
 * Why are viruses considered OBLIGATE parasites?
 * they can't live on their own.
 * Why do viruses ALWAYS cause disease?
 * they replicate extremely quickly
 * How do viruses "emerge" and "spread" each year? Give examples.
 * due to the huge amount of replication they go through, there are many mutations. therefore, new viruses emerge. they spread because the immune system can't recognize it as a pathogen due to the fact that it is new. They also emerge because it has been spread to a place where it has never been to, like the flu which spreads from southeast asia to the united states every year. they are spread due to modern day transportation. With planes, one person can be carrying a disease they are immune to to a new place where it can attack a population that has never seen it before, like SARS which was spread from southeast asia to toronto, canada.
 * What is a virus vector? Give examples,
 * a virus vector is something that helps it to spread. Mosquitoes do just that for west nile.
 * What is the relationship of bird flu to birds?
 * birds are spreading it to the human population.
 * How does bird flu infect humans?
 * bird flu can infect humans through mutations. scientists are worried that the human flu and the avian flu will come together to make a hybrid virus, which would cause a pandemic.
 * What is a pandemic?
 * a worldwide spread disease.
 * Why is there fear that bird flu could cause a pandemic?
 * it could get inside a host species, like pigs, and make a hybrid that can infect both birds and humans.
 * What action can we take to prevent a bird flu pandemic?
 * kill birds that have it and dont come in close contact with wild waterfowl.