Biology Viruses

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What is a virus?

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A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

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What is the structure of a virus?

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A virus typically consists of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid, and sometimes an outer lipid envelope.

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What is the difference between lytic and lysogenic cycles?

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In the lytic cycle, a virus immediately replicates and destroys the host cell. In the lysogenic cycle, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host's DNA and can remain dormant.

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What is a viral genome?

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The genetic material of a virus, which can be either RNA or DNA.

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How do viruses enter host cells?

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Viruses enter host cells by binding to specific receptors on the cell surface and then penetrating the cell membrane.

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What is the role of the immune system in fighting viral infections?

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The immune system identifies and destroys infected cells and produces antibodies to neutralize viruses.

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What is an antibody?

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An antibody is a protein produced by the immune system that recognizes and binds to specific antigens, such as viruses, to help neutralize them.

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What is a host cell?

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A host cell is a living cell that a virus infects in order to replicate and produce new virus particles.

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What is viral replication?

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Viral replication is the process by which a virus hijacks the host's cellular machinery to replicate its genetic material and produce new virus particles.

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What is a retrovirus?

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A retrovirus is a type of virus that uses reverse transcription to convert its RNA genome into DNA after entering a host cell.