Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
15th Edition
ISBN: 9781337408332
Author: Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 15, Problem 1CT
Summary Introduction
To explain: Whether the research on deadliest influenza virus would be more or less safe.
Concept introduction: The way in which the virus functions is an important tool for designing the effective vaccine against viral infections. The virus can be spread by bioterrorism attacks, and it would be better to make strategy to study the virus structure and functions to defeat it.
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) set up a study to determine
whether large doses of vitamin C would shorten the length of time it takes
to recover from a cold. Three thousand volunteers were split into two
groups. For two weeks, members of Group A took 3,000 mg of vitamin C
daily. Group B received 3,000 mg of a placebo. At the end of the two-week
period, the researchers inserted live cold viruses directly into the noses of
all the volunteers. The volunteers in both Group A and B continued to take
their daily pills. All the volunteers got colds, and there was no significant
difference in the length of time the colds lasted.
What is the experimental group in this example? Select the best answer.
Group B.
Three thousand volunteers.
Group A.
The live cold virus.
Length of time the colds lasted.
The vitamin C.
Size of pill (3000 mg).
There have been recent outbreaks of dog flu in the US. Why doesn't this virus infect humans?
A) The virus can replicate in cells of all species but can only egress from dog cells.
B) The genetic code of the virus is the same as that in dog cells but is different from other organisms.
C) The virus can only attach to dog cells.
D) The virus can enter cells of all species but can only replicate in dog cells.
In 1918, an influenza pandemic that originated with avian flu killed 50 million people. Researchers isolated samples of that virus from bodies of infected people preserved in Alaskan permafrost since 1918. From the samples, they sequenced the viral genome, then reconstructed the virus. The reconstructed virus is 39,000 times more infectious than modern influenza strains, and 100 percent lethal in mice.
Understanding how this virus works can help us defend ourselves against other deadly influenza strains that arise. For example, discovering what makes it so infectious would help researchers design more effective vaccines. Critics of the research are concerned: If the virus escapes the containment facilities (even though it has not done so yet), it might cause another pandemic. Worse, terrorists could use the published DNA sequence and methods to make the virus for horrific purposes. Do you think this research makes us more or less safe?
Chapter 15 Solutions
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 15 - Enhanced Spatial Learning Ability in Mice...Ch. 15 - Enhanced Spatial Learning Ability in Mice...Ch. 15 - Prob. 3DAACh. 15 - Prob. 4DAACh. 15 - _________ cut(s) DNA molecules at specific sites....Ch. 15 - Prob. 2SQCh. 15 - Prob. 3SQCh. 15 - For each species, all ________ in the complete set...Ch. 15 - A set of cells that host various DNA fragments...Ch. 15 - Prob. 6SQ
Ch. 15 - Prob. 7SQCh. 15 - Prob. 8SQCh. 15 - Prob. 9SQCh. 15 - Prob. 10SQCh. 15 - A transgenic organism _______. a. carries a gene...Ch. 15 - True or false? Some transgenic organisms can pass...Ch. 15 - Taq polymerase is used for PCR because it _______....Ch. 15 - _____ can correct a genetic defect in an...Ch. 15 - Match each term with the most suitable...Ch. 15 - Match the method with the appropriate enzyme....Ch. 15 - Prob. 1CTCh. 15 - Restriction enzymes in bacterial cytoplasm cut...Ch. 15 - The results of a paternity test using short tandem...
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- Coronaviruses have a positive-sense single stranded RNA genome. a.) What is the genome replication strategy of this category of viruses? b.) How do you think this feature affects the stability of the viral genome? (hint use figure below) Mutation rates in different types of viruses. Estimates obtained for viruses belonging to the major indicated groups are shown as a function of genome size. This reveals an effect of genetic material (RNA/DNA) and genome size on viral mutation rates.arrow_forwardViruses are made up of the same biomolecules as cellular organisms (DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, etc.), which are synthesized through enzymatic dehydration reactions from building blocks and disassembled by enzymatic hydrolysis. They infect cells and replicate themselves using resources from the host cells. Scientists discovered a previously unknown strain of virus in the tropical Pacific Ocean and it can infect higher-order eukaryotes. Initial analysis revealed that the virus is mainly composed of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Chemical analysis after complete hydrolysis revealed the following building blocks (by weight): Chemical components Nucleosides Amino acids Lipids, phosphates, and carbohydrates Percentage by weight 20 30 50 Analysis of percentages of nucleosides yielded the following results (by molar ratio): Nucleosides A G T C U Percentage by mole 19 29 19 29 4 Which of the following events mostly involves hydrolysis reaction after the virus infects…arrow_forwardIn 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of bacteriophage preparation that can be used on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products to kill Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis. Some people may have concerns about the use of phages in foods. From what you have learned about bacteriophages and viruses, why do you think we do not have to be concerned about the presence of bacteriophages in food?arrow_forward
- Some older vaccines used a weakened strain of the pathogenic virus in the injection in the hope that the weakened virus would induce an immune response without causing disease. The virus vectors used in genetic engineering have all the harmful virus genes cut out and replaced with the foreign gene, such as one that makes a protein that is absent in the human patient. Which type of viral vaccine would you prefer to take as the safest option? Why? Some Covid 19 vaccines in development use the adenovirus, a common vector used in gene therapies, to inject the mRNa for the spike protein into human muscle cells. Why might vaccines using a virus vector be more likely to need only refrigeration and not deep-cold storage, given what you know about viruses?arrow_forwardA particular animal virus requires the use of DNA polymerase from its host, since it does not possess its own DNA polymerase enzyme. Which of the following assumptions in A-D would likely be correct regarding this virus? A) O This virus could not be a retrovirus type. B) OIt could be a (-) ss RNA virus. C) O It could be a (+) ss RNA virus. D) O The vVirus life cycle very likely includes going to the host cell nucleus. E) O All ofA-D are correct assumptions.arrow_forwardList three differences between the structure of HIV and the virus that causes influenza. For one of these differences, explain how the STRUCTURE is key to the FUNCTION of the virus.arrow_forward
- Most humans are not easily infected by avian influenza. How, then, do DNA sequences from avian influenza become incorporated into human influenza?arrow_forwardAs a general rule, viruses are not considered to be alive based on several reasons. One such reason is that some viruses use RNA as their genetic material instead of DNA. Which of the five biological themes does this violate? Briefly explain why.arrow_forwardAfter a positive strand RNA virus ( Such as Coronaviruses) enters the host cell, the RNA is translated by ribosomes to create proteins associated with the virus (Such as, for example, the surface antigens like E and Spike proteins). How then, would the genetic material itself be replicated to be incorporated into the new viruses?.arrow_forward
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