BIO 1321 Lab 1

Virus

A strand of genetic material within a coat of protein

Viruses are much…

smaller than cells

How does a virus work?

Invades an organism’s cells, infects machinery

Disease

Disrupts the normal structure/function of an organism, caused by virus/bacteria

In the 1950s, …

polio was eradicated

Pandemic disease is one that

spreads across continents/entire world

Bacteria

Single-celled organisms; some help, some harm

What caused diseases to be spread in the past?

Widespread trade and larger cities causing more interaction between humans and animals → More diseases

A good trend in pandemics?

The gradual reduction in death rate

Why has the death rate declined for pandemics?

Knowing the disease causes, healthcare improvements, and understanding the factors responsible

Where did quarantine begin?

Italy in the 14th century

What is R0 (R not)?

Reproduction #; tells how many people 1 sick person will infect on average

What helps reduce the spread of disease?

Vaccines and herd immunity

What is herd immunity?

When many people develop immunity to a disease and therefore its less likely to spread; typically w/ a vaccine