Viruses

Front

What is a virus?

Back

A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that is non-living and cannot reproduce on its own. It requires a host cell to replicate.

Front

Do viruses have cells?

Back

No, viruses have no cells; they are acellular.

Front

What is the structure of a virus?

Back

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

Front

How do viruses enter host cells?

Back

Viruses attach to host cells using specific receptors and can merge their lipid layers with the host cell membrane.

Front

What is the size of a virus compared to other objects?

Back

Viruses are extremely small; for example, 250,000 viruses can fit inside a grain of sand.

Front

Are viruses considered living organisms?

Back

No, viruses are considered non-living because they cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own.

Front

What is the role of lipids in viral entry into cells?

Back

Lipids attract lipids, allowing the viral envelope to merge with the host cell membrane.

Front

What happens to a virus after it enters a host cell?

Back

Once inside, a virus hijacks the host cell's machinery to replicate its genetic material and produce new virus particles.

Front

What are the main types of viruses?

Back

Viruses can be classified into several types, including DNA viruses, RNA viruses, retroviruses, and enveloped viruses.

Front

How do viruses differ from bacteria?

Back

Viruses are acellular and require a host to replicate, while bacteria are unicellular organisms that can reproduce independently.