Chap 5 Viruses and Prions - Lecture Notes Review

These flashcards summarize key concepts from the lecture on viruses and prions, covering definitions, classification, and the biological significance of viruses.

What does it mean when viruses are described as filterable?

It means that viruses can pass through filters that trap bacteria, indicating they are smaller than bacteria.

What are better terms to describe viruses than alive or dead?

Viruses can be described as active or inactive.

Who proposed the term 'virus' and what does it mean?

Louis Pasteur proposed the term 'virus', which is Latin for 'poison'.

What type of organisms can viruses infect?

Viruses can infect bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, plants, and animals.

What role do viruses play in evolution?

Viruses can infect cells and influence their genetic makeup, significantly shaping the evolution of organisms.

What is an obligate intracellular parasite?

An obligate intracellular parasite is an organism that cannot multiply outside of a specific host cell.

What are the main components of a virus?

A virus consists of a protein shell (capsid) surrounding a nucleic acid core.

What are the types of viral nucleic acids?

Viral nucleic acids can be either DNA or RNA, and can be single or double-stranded.

How are viruses classified?

Viruses are classified based on their hosts, structural properties, chemical composition, and genetic similarities.

What is a virion?

A virion is a fully formed virus that is capable of establishing an infection in a host cell.