AP+Virus+Article

Virus Artile Questions
1. "if we are unlucky..." the author writes we will see evolution in action. What does she mean? Why would it by unlucky to see the avian virus evolve.
 * If we are unlucky we will see evolution in action because the avian flu could kill someone. EVOLVE AND SPREAD FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN

2. Define parasite.
 * some thing that lives off a larger orgainsm such as a animal. AND HARMS THE ORGANISM

3. Define gene.
 * A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines a particular characteristic in an organism. Genes undergo mutation when their DNA sequence changes. [|Definition]

4. She compares viruses to tiny parcels. Why? How are these parcels mailed?
 * She compares viruses to tiny parcels because one or more cells are binded together and then they divide or mutate.
 * These parcels are mailed because they can go to anything such as sneezes, feces, and semen. TRAVEL IN...

5. 20 million people died of the Spanish Flu during World War II. Yet the author claims to know that this flu virus was particularly deadly not that it was a normal virus but because of the war and wartime "deprivation" people were more likely to get sick and die. What two pieces of evidence indicate this was a very deadly virus unlike the normal flu virus.
 * This was a very dadly virus unlike the normal flu virus because of genetic engineering and particularly deadly in young, healthy adults. NOT GENETIC ENGINEERING

6. What is H5N1?
 * It has 8 genes, its a virus that has killed many birds and about 60 people. BIRD FLU

7. Since H5N1 has killed mostly birds, why are we worried about it?
 * We are worried about it becasue it has killed half of the people it has infected.

8. Two processes could change the H5N1 in a deadly way: sex and mutation. What is viral sex and how could it change the virus? What is viral mutation and how could this change the virus?
 * Viral sex is when two genes come in contact with each other and create a new virus where they have genes from each virus. it could change the virus because it could create a new one.
 * Viral mutation is when accidental changes to its genetic material, in such a way to travel between people. This could change the virus becasue it would allow the virus to get dividing making it easier to spread from person t person.

9. How can mutation lead to evolution (origin of new species)?
 * Mutations alter the information content of genes; sex shuffles the pack, generating new gene combinations. With new gene combinations it allows the virus to create new virus.

10. How can sex lead to evolution (origin of new species)?
 * Sex can lead to evolution because it could create new viruses and make them harder to get a vaccine for.