Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 1.1, Problem 1CSC
The Boundaries of Life
Are viruses alive? Viruses release their genetic material inside cells and then hijack the infected cell's energy supplies and biochemical machinery, turning the cell into a kind of factory that chums out many copies of viral parts. These parts assemble into an army of virus particles. The newly formed viruses then emerge from the host cell, often rupturing it in the process. Some types of viruses, including HIV and the Ebola virus, acquire an outer envelope made of the infected cell's plasma membrane as they emerge. Viruses do not obtain or use their own energy or materials, maintain themselves, or grow. Therefore, viruses do not meet our criteria for life. They do, however, possess a few characteristics of life: Viruses respond to stimuli by binding to specific sites on the cells they attack, and some scientists consider viral replication a form of reproduction. Viruses also evolve, often with stunning speed. How does evolution occur in viruses and other biological entities?
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Students have asked these similar questions
Why would viral genome integration into host cell integration be advantageous to a virus?
It enables the virus to kill the cell.
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It speeds up viral replication.
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Viruses, prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells all contain a nucleus
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The Ebola virus is an enveloped, helical ssRNA virus that replicates quickly. Given this information, which one of the following is a reason why Ebola infection is difficult to fight (both by our bodies and by treatments)?
Question 6 options:
Because it has many genes and thus replication is slow.
Because it doesn't have a membrane.
Because viral RNA polymerases make a lot of mistakes.
Because it can integrate into the host cell DNA.
Chapter 1 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Ch. 1.1 - Describe the source of the energy stored In the...Ch. 1.1 - Prob. 1CYLCh. 1.1 - explain why these characteristics are necessary to...Ch. 1.1 - describe how reproduction allows evolution to...Ch. 1.1 - The Boundaries of Life Are viruses alive? Viruses...Ch. 1.2 - explain what mutations are, how they occur, what...Ch. 1.2 - explain how natural processes lead inevitably to...Ch. 1.2 - describe how a new species can be produced by...Ch. 1.2 - The largest dinosaurs were plant-eaters. Based on...Ch. 1.3 - Prob. 1CYL
Ch. 1.3 - Prob. 2CYLCh. 1.3 - describe the fundamental differences between...Ch. 1.3 - What current, ongoing environmental change is...Ch. 1.4 - describe the principles underlying science?Ch. 1.4 - outline the scientific method?Ch. 1.4 - explain why controls are crucial in biological...Ch. 1.4 - explain why fundamental scientific principles are...Ch. 1.4 - distinguish between inductive and deductive...Ch. 1.4 - Prob. 1TCCh. 1.4 - Fruit flies, bacteria from hot springs, sea...Ch. 1.4 - The Boundaries of Life If viruses aren't a form of...Ch. 1 - Evolution is a. a belief. b. a scientific theory....Ch. 1 - Prob. 2MCCh. 1 - Prob. 3MCCh. 1 - Prob. 4MCCh. 1 - Which one of the following is True? a. The...Ch. 1 - Organisms respond to ________. Organisms acquire...Ch. 1 - Prob. 2FIBCh. 1 - Prob. 3FIBCh. 1 - Prob. 4FIBCh. 1 - Prob. 5FIBCh. 1 - Prob. 1RQCh. 1 - Prob. 2RQCh. 1 - Prob. 3RQCh. 1 - Prob. 4RQCh. 1 - What are some differences between prokaryotic and...Ch. 1 - What basic principles underlie scientific inquiry?Ch. 1 - Prob. 7RQCh. 1 - Prob. 8RQCh. 1 - Explain the differences between inductive and...Ch. 1 - List the steps in the scientific method with a...Ch. 1 - What misunderstanding causes some people to...Ch. 1 - Prob. 2ACCh. 1 - Review Alexander Flemings experiment that led to...Ch. 1 - Prob. 4ACCh. 1 - Prob. 5AC
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- The Ebola virus is an enveloped, helical ssRNA virus that replicates quickly. Given this information, which one of the following is a reason why Ebola infection is difficult to fight (both by our bodies and by treatments)? Question 6 options: Because it has many genes and thus replication is slow. Because it doesn't have a membrane. Because viral RNA polymerases make a lot of mistakes. Because it can integrate into the host cell DNA. Previous PageNext Pagearrow_forwardWhat is true about the difference between prions and viruses? Viruses have genomes composed of RNA, whereas prions have genomes composed of DNA. Viruses have capsids composed of protein, whereas prions are made only of nucleic acid. Viruses infect many types of cells, whereas prions infect only prokaryotic cells. Viruses generally cause disease symptoms quickly, whereas prions generally take many years to cause disease symptoms.arrow_forwardSelect all the following statements that are TRUE regarding viruses: □ All viruses are potentially dangerous to humans because any virus can infect any host. □ Viruses are fastidious pathogens that require complex growth media. □ Viruses are noncellular particles that take over the metabolism of a cell to generate more virus particles. □ Viruses are genomes made of RNA and DNA that lack many protein. □ Viruses can infect all other known life forms on earth, from Archaea to humans.arrow_forward
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