These viruses break, or lyse, the cell and spread to other cells to continue the cycle. Using the host’s cellular metabolism, the viral DNA begins to replicate and form proteins. In the lytic cycle, the virus attaches to the host cell and injects its DNA. Some viruses reproduce using both methods, while others only use the lytic cycle. There are two processes used by viruses to replicate: the lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle. No matter the shape, all viruses consist of genetic material ( DNA or RNA) and have an outer protein shell, known as a capsid. However, bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) have a unique shape, with a geometric head and filamentous tail fibers. Viruses generally come in two forms: rods or spheres. Viruses are so small that they are best viewed using an electron microscope, which is how they were first visualized in the 1940s. coli bacteria has a diameter of around 1 micrometer. Most viruses are only 20–400 nanometers in diameter, whereas human egg cells, for example, are about 120 micrometers in diameter, and the E. Not only are viruses microscopic, they are smaller than many other microbes, such as bacteria. A virus that is outside of a host cell is known as a virion. As such, there is some debate as to whether or not viruses should be considered living organisms. They may use an animal, plant, or bacteria host to survive and reproduce. Viruses are tiny infectious agents that rely on living cells to multiply.
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