To analyse: The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells. Introduction: Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Question

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Answer 1

Question

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

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Students have asked these similar questions

The cell is the basic unit of all living things, and viruses which are generally not considered living but have the ability to infect cells. Describe how the structure of a virus compares to the structure of a cell. You should explain (not list) at least two similarities and two differences between features of cells and viruses including a brief explanation of the function of those structures. Explain why viruses need cells.

Discuss the following statement: “Viruses exist in the twilight zone of life: outside cells they are simply dead assemblies of molecules; inside cells, however, they are alive.”

Why viruses are considered at border line between living and non living things? Explain it in detail with reasonable examples?

Answer 2

Question

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

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Answer 3

Question

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 4

Question

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 5

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

Answer 6

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.

Conclusion

Viruses and living cells seem to be evolutionarily connected.

Answer 7

Chapter 6.L2, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To analyse:

The origin of viruses and the fact that viruses can so easily enter and get uncoated inside human cells.

Introduction:

Viruses are unique microorganisms that don’t show any signs of life until they come in contact with their specific hosts. Once this contact happens, viruses enter their host cells and use the cellular and genetic machinery of the host cell to multiply. Once their multiplication cycle is over, they are released from the host cell and infect new host cells.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

Explanation of Solution

Since viruses are very simple in structure, comprising of only nucleic acid and protein coat, it may be postulated that viruses were probably the first microorganisms on Earth, though not living. It is likely that viruses were the intermediate step in evolution from macromolecules to living cells.

This is clearly evident in the ease with which viruses are able to enter inside their host cells. The presence of corresponding receptors on the surface of the host cell and the machinery to uncoat viral particles clearly indicate the evolutionary connection between viruses and living cells.