Is a virus considered living or non-living?
Viruses are considered non-living because they lack many of the characteristics scientists associate with being alive. In order to be living, something must follow these eight characteristics of life, which include: being made up of at least one cell, having to eat, growing (or increasing its biomass), reproducing itself, responding to its environment, adapting and evolving, maintaining internal and external homeostasis, and lastly, something must end, as in order to be living, all life comes to an end. First off, viruses do not contain a cytoplasm or any other cell organelles. Viruses also have no energy metabolism, therefor, they do not eat and, they do not grow, or increase their biomass. Viruses produce no waste products and need a living cell to help them reproduce as they can not reproduce on their own. Lastly, a virus never comes to an end, they are always on a constant cycle meaning a virus can last forever. Although a virus does contain DNA and RNA which can mutate just like our, it is still argued that viruses are non-living as they lack so many of the characteristics that define life.
Lytic and Lysogenic cycle of a cold sore
How does your body defend against pathogens?
PhagocytosisPhagocytosis is when the host's white blood cells can "eat" the virus by engulfing and destroying it with enzymes in their lysosomes. Engulfing this particle forms an internal vesicle known as a phagosome inside the cell.
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InterferonInterferon is a protein made by the infected host cell before it dies. This protein signals other cells to defend against the virus and activates the immune cells to kill the virus.
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Antibodies (Immunoglobulin)Antibodies are highly specific proteins made by white blood cells. These proteins attach themselves to a virus and clump together, which will deactivate the virus. Once the virus is deactivated, it will be easier for other white blood cells to destroy it.
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Binary FissionThe process of binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction where the parent cell splits into two identical cells. The parent cell duplicates its genetic material, or DNA, and then divides into two parts, this is a method of cytokinesis. Each new organism receives one copy of DNA resulting in two identical daughter cells.
Binary Fission VS Conjugation |
ConjugationThe process of conjugation is a direct transfer of genes between bacteria. Two cells come together, exchanging genetic material, then separating to result in both cells containing the same genetic material.
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Binary Fission:
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Both:
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Conjugation:
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Transduction |
Transformation |
Transduction is the transfer of genetic material from one cell to another, usually bacteria cells. This process occurs through the use of bacteriophage. The process can also be referred to as the process where foreign DNA is introduced into another cell.
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Transformation is the direct uptake and incorporation of genetic information from a cells surrounding environment. For transformation to occur, bacteria must be in a state of competence, which means it will have the ability to take up extracellular DNA from its environment.
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Explain the evolution of antibiotic resistance. How is our use of antibiotics contributing to the development of super bugs?
Antibiotic resistance is evolving from the overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are given to doctors to kill infections, bacteria, viruses, etc, which is not a problem until doctors start giving antibiotics out when they are unnecessary. Unneeded use of antibiotics results in viruses becoming immune to them, which is a huge problem. Another problem that arises with irresponsible antibiotic use is when a patient prescribed with antibiotics does not finish the entire bottle. Each day antibiotics are taken, the weakest is killed off and eventually the strongest viruses are killed. If the antibiotics stopped being taken before the bottle is finished this would leave the strongest of the virus to survive and create more viruses as strong as it is. The result of this is having very strong viruses immune to the antibiotics needed to get rid of them. When people continue to quit taking their antibiotics this will keep happening, contributing the development of super bugs greatly.